Stage Review - The Outsider (Edmonds Driftwood Players)
Stage Review - The Outsider
Presented By: Edmonds Driftwood Players - Edmonds, WA
Show Run: February 27 - March 22, 2026
Date Reviewed: Friday, March 06, 2026
Run Time: 2 Hours, 20 Minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)
Reviewed by: Anna Tatelman
If you go around asking people if government is useless or vital, chances are you’ll get ten-thousand different responses. Edmonds Driftwood Players’ current production creates a compelling case for why political systems are crucial to everyone’s lives with a good amount of levity and charm. The Outsiders is a contemporary show about politics that, somehow, offers a surprising reprieve from the typical chaos and divisions that often define modern government.
The Outsider, written by Paul Slade Smith, debuted onstage about a decade ago. It centers on Ned Newly, a man who has devotedly worked behind-the-scenes in government for years. The play begins just after Ned is promoted to state governor, after the previous governor stepped down in the wake of a sex scandal. Although Ned loves being a politician, he hates and is terrified of speaking in public. His aides, campaign manager, and temporary secretary now must help him understand both the necessity of politicians presenting well on camera and develop strategies to make him as charismatic as he is knowledgeable.
Much of the show revolves around Ned feeling frazzled and unsure how to present himself to his constituents, but the production itself is tightly paced and confident, a testament to both Tammi Doyle’s direction and the entire seven-person ensemble. Both the textual and physical humor gets brought to the forefront as we experience the characters’ contradicting viewpoints about what politics could or should be. Whether it’s watching Ned’s bumbling attempts at television interviews or enjoying the banter (my favorite cringe-inducing line is, when discussing ideal political candidates, “unprepared is where it’s at”), both the production team and the audience are having a ball.
Of particular note within the all-around excellent ensemble is Keith Dahlgren as Ned. He’s uncomfortable and awkward: continually stammering, making gibberish noises when he can’t think of a word, and startled by those around him. One of the best scenes is Ned’s first, when we get to watch him enter his new office and see his reactions to the world unfiltered by anyone else, from his getting spooked by the plants to enjoying a spin in the chair. But Dahlgren brings Ned to life when discussing actual policies or political stances, posture straightening and conversation flowing. Gina Wilhelm, who plays the temporary secretary named Lulu, is another standout. Lulu is a delightful contrast to Ned, someone who loves attention and exudes confidence even when she has little idea what she’s talking about (which is 98% of the time). Wilhelm captures both Lulu’s ditziness and her kindness with a straightforward sincerity that makes her instantly endearing and garners some of the biggest laughs.
The majority of The Outsider’s production elements are high quality and harmonious with one another. The costumes are mostly blazers and trousers befitting political pundits with little personal touches, but Lulu gets a bright yellow cardigan and red stockings that give an excellent visualization of her uniqueness (costumes by Beth Mahmoud-Howell). The set is an elaborate and detailed depiction of a circular government office replete with unique props, including a globe that opens up to serve as a liquor cabinet (set design by Rex Goulding; properties design by Joey Wittenberg).
The production element that felt incongruous was the lighting design. While parts of the show were well lit, there were multiple moments when the lights dimmed or brightened slowly, or flickered abruptly. I’m not entirely sure if these lighting moments were technical glitches or intentional, but as far as I could tell, they did not relate dramatically to what was happening onstage (lighting design by Kathryn Louise). Nonetheless, The Outsider’s overall design is of high caliber.
Edmonds Driftwood Players’ current show is topical in its approach to contemporary politics without being directly analogous or taking itself too seriously. The Outsider offers audiences an excellent way to laugh off the stress of the world while enjoying a well-designed production with a talented seven-person ensemble. Real government might often feel like just a show, but Edmonds Driftwood’s show is an excellent and light-hearted reminder of why good government matters.
The Outsider runs on stage at Edmonds Driftwood Players through March 22. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/.
Photo credit: Dale Sutton
