The play is a winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards. A pathologically shy middle-aged man named Charlie is overcome with the idea of making conversation with strangers. His friend tells everyone at the fishing lodge they are visiting that Charlie is from another country and cannot speak English. the fun really begins when Charlie overhears more than he should since no one believes he understands anything being said. The play is non-stop hilarity as things go uproariously awry for the "bad guys" and the "good guys" emerge triumphant.