Bigfork Players perform Don't Drink the Water Feb. 26

Former Leader Editor David Reese plays the part of Ambassador Magee

The Bigfork Community Players will open Woody Allen’s comedy, Don’t Drink the Water, at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, February 26.Written and originally produced at the height of the Cold War, this play takes us to a small state somewhere in Europe in the mid 1960s. Populated almost entirely by atheistic Communists, the country is likely run by a recent but untested party head of state, who we never meet. We do, however, become intimately familiar with his sadistic head of the police force, who views everyone foreign as a spy who should be hanged first and tried later. Into this environment wanders a New Jersey caterer, familiar with how things get done back home and having limited tolerance for the intricacies of international diplomacy. Unfortunately, he seeks asylum at the American embassy, which by the unfortunate timing of political ambition, is left in the hands of a young romantic who can’t understand why everyone doesn’t just tell it like it is. 

When the play was written in 1966, the possibility of citizens storming an embassy and doing violence to those inside was so foreign to American thought that it was instantly funny. Almost fifty years later, with the experience of Tehran, Benghazi, and several other incursions suggesting such is a real possibility, humor is not endemic to the situation. “But with the skills of an artful playwright and the willing suspension of disbelief that is part of vicarious experience,” says David Vale, president of the Players who plays Walter Hollander in the play, “the script nevertheless delivers rolling-in-the-aisles comedy.”

Don’t Drink the Water was Woody Allen’s first script produced on Broadway. Allen’s career began as a joke writer and stand-up comedian. As a result, some of his scripts tended to put the importance of jokes above that of the story. “In this script, he achieves a good balance,” adds Vale, “maintaining a flowing story line while delivering joke after joke.”

“I read a number of scripts looking for a good comedy,” Vale continues. “This one stood out above all the others I read for having a well paced story and a laugh a minute. Our theater company specializes in comedy and I think this may be our funniest production to date.”

Vale had originally intended to direct the play, but ceded that duty to Bigfork newcomer and veteran director Larry Lefcourt. “I’ll have to admit that this play probably would not have made it onto my radar screen as I’m not generally a fan of Woody Allen,” said Lefcourt. “But after I read it and now that we’re into production, I can say that it is absolutely hilarious.”

Michele Shapero, who directed Steel Magnolias last fall, plays Walter’s wife Marion. “I love being part of this play and part of this company,” she says. “We decided two years ago, as a company, to concentrate on comedies. Now in our second season, I feel we’re really on a roll.”

Don’t Drink the Water will be presented at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts, 526 Electric Ave. in Bigfork. Performances are February 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and on February 27 and 28 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for children under 12. Tickets are available at Bigfork Drug, the Pocketstone Cafe, the Kalispell Grand Hotel, online at www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com, and at the door.