Published: March 20, 2009 09:22 am      

The Hollanders unforgettable vacation

WEATHERFORD — Theatre Off the Square in Weatherford presents “Don’t Drink the Water” written by Woody Allen and produced with special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. weekends March 20-29. “Don’t Drink the Water” is directed by Darla Robinson with assistant director Wally Jones.

Written for the mid 1960s, the play takes place during a very different political setting with suspicions running high between the United States and communist countries. The American embassy becomes a refuge for a vacationing New Jersey family after they are observed taking pictures of a restricted communitions site and mistaken for spies. The Hollanders – Walter, Marion and their daughter, Susan, played by Duncan Alexander, Laurie Jones and Nikki Hinson – are chased into the embassy by a Soviet agent, played by Nikolai Braswell who is convinced the family is spying for the United States and promises to arrest them the instant they step out of the embassy.

In the absence of Ambassador Magee, played by Wally Jones, his son, Axel, played by John Sempeles, attempts to assist the Hollanders find a way to return to the United States. In the meantime, Axel finds himself becoming more and more interested in the Hollanders’ daughter, much to the chagrine of Mr. Hollander. Mr. Kilroy, assistant to the ambassador, played by Bobby Akers, finds himself continually having to correct international blunders created by Axel. Helping Mr. Kilroy with the embassy business is Ms. Burns, played by Jamie Forman. Amanda Livengood plays the personal chef for the ambassador and his many guests. Father Drobney, played by Wendell Teague, is a six year guest of the embassy who entered seeking asylum from the government. In those six years, he has spent most of the time in his room practicing magic and is thrilled to have a captive audience in the Hollanders.

Determined to succeed at the task before him, Axel tries to handle the unrest outside of the embassy and keep the Hollanders from turning the day to day activities upside down. The task becomes more challenging when Marion insists on cleaning and ironing for the staff and Walter finds opportunities to share his opinion on foreign affairs with visiting dignitaries, even if his opinions aren’t welcome. When a bomb is thrown through the window of the embassy, drastic measures are put into place with a trade to be made between a Soviet spy and the Hollanders. That plan falls apart at the last minute leading to a desperate scheme to help the Hollanders escape. Other embassy guests adding to the adventure are the Sultan of Bashir and his wife, played by Greg Couch and Debby Herbel, and Countess Bordoni and Kasnar, played by Karri O’Connor and Asa Smith.

“Don’t Drink the Water” will be performed March 20-22 and 27-29 at Theatre Off the Square located at 114 N. Denton in Weatherford. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are available in advance at the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce and Weatherford Senior Center for $10 or by calling (817) 341-8687 (TOTS). Prices at the door are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Matinee tickets are $9. Season ticket holders are encouraged to call for selected seating. For information, call (817) 341-8687 (TOTS) or visit www.weatherfordtots.org.