LOGAN — The Outsider is a two-act play by Paul Slade Smith performed as part of the Lyric Repertory Company 2026 season. The play is a satirical political comedy about Lieutenant Governor Ned Newley who becomes governor of a small state, when the elected governor is removed after a sexual scandal. Newley is entirely unprepared for this public-facing position and is arguably the worst candidate to ever enter political office. Especially as he is terrified of public speaking. Newley’s Chief of Staff Dave Riley is overwhelmed by Newley’s poor public support after a terrible swearing in ceremony. However, political consultant Arthur Vance arrives with a vision to help Ned succeed with the public. Directed by Jay Stratton, this production delivers the wit and comedic beats of Smith’s script in masterful fashion with delightful humor . The cast each plays their roles well balancing stereotypical beats with genuine humanity allowing moments of insightful social commentary.
Editor’s Note: Production Photos have not yet been received by UTAJ. When they are, they will be added to this review.
The Outsider has never been reviewed by Utah Theatre Bloggers, now newly renamed as the Utah Theatre Arts Journal. The play by Smith first premiered on June 15, 2015. The script is smart and plays very well on common frustrations with political offices and government officials and election shenanigans. The play mines much humor from the knowledge that politics is the ultimate popularity contest full of artifice and appearances with a lack of actual competency.
The events and commentary of this play are remarkably timely, mirroring real-world political absurdities. It’s easy to believe a governor would be removed from office after a sexual affair is revealed prompting his unknown lieutenant governor (picked only to balance the ticket and governor’s personality) to rise to the top state office.
The cast consists of seven principal characters who each play an important role in the story. Paul T. Mitri plays Ned Newley and Mitri’s performance is excellent. As the newly sworn in governor, Mitri plays a clearly overwhelmed man. Ned is described before the character appears, so when Mitri enters onstage and immediately hides behind a suitcase to hide from the audience, the sequence is delightfully rich with characterization. Without any dialogue, Mitri develops a relatable and insecure persona that is easy to like as his mastery of physical comedy is staged very well and built to a riotous conclusion. Later sequences blending dialogue and staging build on Mitri’s talent.
When playing opposite Joshua Paul Wright (as chief of staff Dave Riley), Mitri transitions effectively into the competent government official who understands budgets better than anybody. It’s clear that it’s the same person, but how the pressure shifts around him reveals his nature. And with Dave, Ned is with someone he trusts. Mitri and Wright are a compelling duo. Their reliance on one another and trust is clear between the characters. Dave is Ned’s rock, the man who believes despite Ned’s discomfort with the spotlight he should be the state governor. Wright plays Dave the idealist very well and with deep sincerity especially in scenes when defending Ned as right for the job, despite polling.
Jonah Newton’s portrayal of Arthur Vance provides an excellent balance to Wright’s compelling performance. Vance is the intrepid political strategist. Newton plays Vance as confident and calculating, but likeable. As Vance coaches Newley for an interview, Newton’s enthusiasm barely outweighs the patronizing pre selected answer cards handed for Ned to read verbatim. While Vance sees Newley’s potential, he also sees a great political success story credited to him. The opening scene of act two as Wright and Vance debrief a television interview is very well paced and balanced between the two men, as Newton calmly explains Vance’s philosophy of selecting political candidates.
Ariana Whatcott as Rachel Parsons is dynamic. Playing the television reporter who is frustrated from simply following the political rules, rather than investigating and reporting the story, Whatcott’s cynicism is honest and intelligent. Whatcott proves a capable scene partner with both Newton and Wright. Parsons’s cameraman A.C. Peterson is played by Herb Newsome in a smaller role where Newsome uses simple grunts and physicality to express his characters emotion’s.
Lizzy Ricks as the pollster Paige Caldwell is intelligent and witty, reveling in the unexpected performance of Ned as a new political figure. Both Ricks and Wright appear in the first scene together and how they describe the swearing in ceremony’s catastrophic impact is immediately engaging. The offstage event comes to life through how they describe and react to the event and it’s fallout.
In a terrific bit of dramaturgy by Charlotte Harris, the “infamous” swearing in is available for viewing during intermission as a lobby display with excellent news commentary and memes.
Samae Allred plays Louise Peakes, the temporary secretary. Allred is unforgettable as the temporary secretary, leaning into Louise’s hilariously absentminded nature as the character constantly forgets names and tasks. It is important for Peakes to be likeable to the onstage characters and appeal to the audience despite her lack of competence, and Allred’s optimistic and confident performance is infectious.
The costume design by Lydia Semler was very nice in distinguishing between characters. Dave appears in business casual wearing khakis and polos. In comparison, pollster Caldwell and Vance are sharply dressed in formal business wear. Louise Peakes, in connection with her very bright personality, wears vivid colors and patterns that easily stand out on stage and from the formal set of the governor’s office. Rachel Parsons wears a sharp formal look, but with sleek patterns, like a leopard print suit top. Parsons’s makeup is also dramatic and more intense, appropriate for a television reporter. Ned Newley begins wearing a suit that appears poorly tailored as the jacket and pants look large and bulky. His interview outfit is the stereotypical plaid get up meant to portray Ned as the “average guy”. By the conclusion, Ned’s suit seems to fit much better and matches a growing confidence in his role.
The scenic and props design by William King makes the main set look like a governor’s office. The office with brown columns and green patterned wallpaper is formal and believable. The set looks sturdy which is impressive considering the venue is used for other productions in the repertory season. The various banners, set decorations, take out containers, torn and crumpled paper and other set decorations add variety to different scenes because the main set is static. Many props seen onstage are used purposefully to amplify the comedic beats in the production, including a dartboard, an office chair, an intercom, and a white throw blanket.
The Outsider is exactly the type of play needed to poke fun at the political dog and pony show and the pretense of elections, but also highlight the faults in ourselves as the viewing and voting public. Those who roll their eyes at the phrase “electability” and complain about the incompetency of major political candidates, while noticing many continue to be reelected will find the production appropriately relevant. The production also is more generally political, avoiding naming political parties or current political leaders.
However, this satirical comedy avoids becoming depressingly cynical about public office. A standout moment of the production occurs between Mitri and Newsome. Their dialogue as governor and cameraman highlights the conflict between the shallow entertainment and posturing of politics and the work of government as a meaningful way of accomplishing community interests. It transforms this very funny play into something more human and sincere. I’m delighted Lyric Rep selected an outsider to the common theatre productions in our state, with a theme perfectly fitting during the summer celebrating 250 years of America.
MORE INFO: The Outsider plays at the Caine Lyric Theater (30 W Center St, Logan, UT 84321). Performances play through August 1st in a repertory schedule found online here with times either at 1:00pm or 7:30pm. Tickets are $48-58. To view more information and buy tickets, visit https://www.usu.edu/lyricrep/.
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