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Paul Slade Smith is a writer and actor based in Brooklyn, New York. His three published plays have collectively had more than 500 productions. Paul's first play, Unnecessary Farce, has been staged throughout the United States, and in Australia, Austria, Canada, Great Britain, Iceland, Japan, Singapore and Switzerland - and translated into French, German, Swiss German and Icelandic. His political comedy, The Outsider, won two Helen Hayes Awards in its Washington, DC premiere, where it was hailed as “a laugh-out-loud whimsical farce, as if Oscar Wilde has come back from the dead to write an episode of The West Wing.” His third play - Theatre People, Or The Angel Next Door - has happily hopped from theatre to theatre across the country since its 2023 world premiere. As an actor, Paul’s credits include the original Broadway casts of Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the Lincoln Center revival of My Fair Lady. Following its Broadway run, Paul starred as Willy Wonka in the Australian premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His regional theatre performing credits include The Goodman, Steppenwolf, American Repertory Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. www.paulsladesmith.com

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Welcome to The Outsider, a play that humorously explores the chaotic world of politics, offering a fresh look at the absurdity of power and ambition. In this fast-paced comedy, an ordinary man finds himself caught in the whirlwind of a political race, showing us how easily the system can be upended by chance and confusion.
What makes The Outsider so compelling is its non-partisan approach. The play does not favor one political ideology over another, but rather reflects on the universal oddities of politics. It highlights how the game of power often feels more like a series of unpredictable events than a calculated process, and how those in the spotlight can be swept up in forces beyond their control.
Through laughter, The Outsider invites us to question the mechanics of politics—how decisions are made, how leaders are chosen, and the sometimes nonsensical nature of it all—without telling us what to believe. It’s a reminder that, no matter where we stand, the political world can often seem just as bewildering as it is important.
Regardless of where we stand on any issue, the play reminds us that we all encounter moments where things don’t go as planned. It shows us that the systems we work within—whether in politics, work, or life—are often filled with uncertainty, and we can’t always control what happens. But it’s in those moments of unpredictability that we can find humor, connection, and even insight into the world around us.
Tonight’s performance is an invitation to laugh together, to reflect on the things we all have in common, and to enjoy the ridiculousness that life sometimes throws our way. It’s a reminder that, no matter our background or beliefs, we’re all part of this unpredictable ride together.
Thank you for being here tonight. I hope you enjoy the show and find some joy in the surprises that unfold on stage.

Sincerely, Chris Berthelot