Buffalo Theatre Ensemble opens its season with The Outsider

Paul Slade Smith’s comedy The Outsider will run through Sunday, October 6 at Playhouse Theatre located at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

Photo: L-R Robert Jordan Bailey, Joe Bushell, Hugh Callaly and Sara Mountjoy-Pepka. Photo by Rex Howard Photography

“In politics stupidity is not a handicap,” said Napoleon Bonaparte. I don’t know when I laughed harder – when I read this quote or when I attended the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s hilarious comedy, The Outsider. In some ways this quote complements this play, although the play exposes many more issues and grotesque situations in modern politics than Bonaparte could have possibly imagined.

The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith, directed by BTE member Kurt Naebig, runs through Sunday, October 6 at Playhouse Theatre located at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. All evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday – Saturday. The Sunday performances start at 3 p.m.; there also will be an ASL performance at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, September 26.

As Vox noted, 2024 is the biggest global election year in history. The BTE is bringing this outstanding play to its stage right on time and seems like it winks to this politically charged fall season with this production.

And this production winks back with its funny moments, monologues, situations and its wonderful actors and crew members.

So, what is this play about? Broadway World calls The Outsider “funny, timely, and – dare we say – entirely possible.” San Diego Union Tribune notes that “Paul Slade Smith has managed to write a play about politics that’s not only genuinely and consistently funny but has something eloquent to say about the meaning of leadership.” Out in New Jersey calls it, “Hilarious and oddly uplifting.”

Personally, I think that it’s one of the funniest productions I have ever seen in my life, but I do have to note that it contains adult themes and language. Which in some ways I can even understand because the theme – politics – is sometimes difficult to discuss without strong emotions and language.

Nevertheless, the play seems to unite people more than divide them, and Director Kurt Naebig found the best way to start the BTE’s 38th anniversary season by exploring the depth of this play and bringing to light those aspects of politics that are usually hidden from the public. But only if you believe that the play shows the truth of it.

“I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to direct ‘The Outsider’, especially during this dynamic election season,” noted Naebig. “The play is a brilliant piece that we can all enjoy together, regardless of our political leanings, and it’s no secret we need that right now. I could not imagine a better production to open BTE’s season, especially given the incredible team of actors and designers showcased in this production. In addition, it’s giving BTE the chance to reconnect with Smith, an internationally acclaimed actor and playwright, three decades after his early career performances with BTE.”

Photo: L-R Robert Jordan Bailey, Joe Bushell and Laura Leonardo Ownby. Photo by Rex Howard Photography

As the press release says, “The Outsider is a rapid-fire comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy. Ned Newley is the worst politico ever…he has no political instincts and a fear of public speaking. When Newley is thrust into the spotlight, he seems destined to fail, but his political consultant sees things differently.”

The Outsider opened on June 16, 2015, at the Peninsula Players Theater in Wisconsin and is certainly even more relevant today. This year, it will be performed four times in the United States, with the BTE production being one of those four. 

The BTE cast features Robert Jordan Bailey (Ned Newley), Joe Bushell (Dave Riley), Lisa Dawn (Rachel Parsons), Zach Kunde (A.C. Petersen), Sara Mountjoy-Pepka (Paige Caldwell), Laura Leonardo Ownby (Louise Peakes), and Hugh Callaly (Arthur Vance). The design team includes Kurt Naebig (Director), Liz Hadden (Scenic Design), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design), Christopher Kriz (Music Composition, and Sound Design), Garrett Bell (Lighting Design) and Isa Noe (Properties Design). Stage Manager is Jenniffer J. Thusing. Student Assistant Stage Manager (and BTE Stage Management Scholar) is Ashley Chavez.

The playwright, Paul Slade Smith, is a writer and actor based in Brooklyn, New York. In the past, Smith appeared at BTE in the dual roles of Victor-Emanuel Chandebise and Poche both in the 1993 world premiere and the 1996 revival of “Hotel D’amour,” a musical based on Georges Feydeau’s “A Flea in Her Ear.” Now, he is thrilled to return (at least on the page) to Buffalo Theatre Ensemble again.

As an actor, Smith’s 15 years of Chicago credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Marriott Lincolnshire. His New York credits include his appearances on Broadway and at the Lincoln Center. Smith also starred as Willy Wonka in the Australian premiere of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. His national touring credits include Wicked, The Phantom of The Opera and My Fair Lady. Smith is the author of three plays, which collectively have had nearly 500 productions.

What I want to add to this information before I finish my article and before you buy your tickets is the following. As Abraham Lincoln said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Yes, this play is funny, but in real life the election season might be tough. Get ready for it by attending this light, humorous, yet deep and thought-provoking play presented to you by Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, a theatre that shares with you humor, joy and humanity though its highly professional productions.

Tickets are $44. For tickets or more information visit https://atthemac.org/events/the-outsider/ or call 630-942-4000. The Box Office is open noon – 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and two hours prior to performance.

A post-show discussion with the director, actors and crew will take place on Friday, September 13.

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is partially supported and funded by generous grants from Arts DuPage, Choose DuPage, College of DuPage Foundation, The Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund, the DuPage Foundation, Benevity, Illinois Arts Council Agency and the generous support of College of DuPage and McAninch Arts Center.

Natalia Dagenhart