Woody Allen's "Don't Drink the Water" opens at Melon Patch, Leesburg

Standing RuthAnn Proch, Fred Due
Seated Alan Terry Jr., Kenyatta Edwards

Ambassador Magee (Dan Bordenkircher) is the U.S. appointee to a small, strictly controlled communist country in central Europe. Duty calls Magee back to the states and, with some trepidation, he leaves his son Axel (Alan Terry Jr.) in charge even though Axel has a 'perfect record' in diplomacy .The problem is that Axel’s ‘perfect record’ is in mistakes.

Woody Allen’s “Don’t Drink the Water,” currently playing at the Melon Patch has plenty of other off-beat characters. Father Drobney (Greggory Allen) opens the action with a comedic monologue detailing how he has become a six-year resident at the Embassy. But it takes Axel’s inept handling of the Hollander family seeking sanctuary in the Embassy that really gets the laughs going.

Tourist Walter Hollander (Fred Due) is accused of being a spy for unintentionally taking snapshots of military installations. Wife Marion (RuthAnn Proch) has a sharp tongue which cuts Walter down or up as the occasion demands. Kenyatta Edwards plays the Hollanders’ daughter Susan and once you get past the initial shock of Director Dan Wilson’s non-traditional casting, everything falls nicely into place.

Terry takes the part of the hapless, bumbling Alex, a role that Woody Allen wrote for himself. It is the pivotal character, which Terry slightly overplays.

The actual leads are Due and Proch who have the experience and stage presence to pull off most of the laughs. Due, a Del Webb Spruce Creek resident has a long list of credits topped by a stand-out performance as Julian Marsh, the male lead in Ocala Civic’s “42nd Street.” Proch grabbed a MP “Sara Award” as Claire in “Rumors.” Their excellent chemistry and timing make this show worth seeing.

Kenyatta Edwards makes her first major role a memorable one. She aced her lines and delivery. Expect to see more of this lovely young lady as roles open up for her.

Others in the cast are Don Campbell, Thomas LaRosa, Tucker Bordenkircher, Tamra Halsey, and Angela Oxendine, Michael Winternheimer and CF Turk reprise from the MP’s 2002 presentation.

“Don’t Drink the Water” is Woody Allen’s first play of note. Written in 1966 as a spoof of the cold war, it is obviously dated, however, it continues to be the darling of community and college theaters because of its variety of secondary roles.

This show runs weekends through February 5. For times, prices, and reservations call 787-3013 or click icon on the left column.