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Don't Drink the Water Also see John's recent review of The Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex is surrounded by a large assortment of theatre companies. Some have large houses and budgets, while others are smaller in both money and actual space. You have to admire the smaller companies who present theatre to their respective communities, and hopefully for all metroplex theatergoers. For example, OnStage in Bedford is a small theatre company nestled right on the grounds of the Bedford Boys Ranch. Inside this stone structure is an intimate theatre space that is currently presenting Woody Allen's Don't Drink the Water. Allen's script still retains some of his comic bite and wit, but it also at times exposes its cobwebs of dated jokes and one-liners. But this did not stop directors Beth Bontley and Leah Carithers-Jeffers and their cast from providing an evening of laughs. Bontley and Carithers-Jeffers not only directed the piece, but they also designed the ornate set, which is a mid 1960s American Embassy somewhere behind the Iron Curtain. They are greatly assisted by set decorator Kevin McKinnon, who adorned the set with red, white, and blue bunting, oil paintings, books, flower arrangements, and even a portrait of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Bontley & Carithers-Jeffers give their actors freedom to really explore their roles and to add their own personal levels of comedy. For the most part, this works amazingly well. The stage is tiny, but they wisely added several levels for the actors to use to their advantage. Kudos to these two for keeping the physical action in constant motion; as one actor exits, another actor comes right in. Even so, at times the pace does lag. The choices of scene change music were perfect; from the Beatles to the theme from "Get Smart", the music is great commentary on what just happened on stage or what is about to happen. Light and sound designer Brent Arnold's use of various sounds to create mobs outside the embassy and a bomb exploding are great. I really enjoyed his use of a search light for hunting the spies, and the romantic blue hues for evening that served as excellent mood enhancers for the action on stage. The majority of the cast is quite enjoyable, but a couple of the performances don't match the comedy pace and timing of their fellow thespians. Heading the cast is Chad Gibson as Axel Magee, the son of a famous Ambassador. Alas, Axel is a major klutz and a problem to his father. Gibson possesses a solid stage presence and perfect comic timing for the role. He uses wonderful facial expressions that are both natural and entertaining. It must also be said that Gibson has really strong chemistry with each performer on stage. This gives his performance life and energy which is shared by his fellow cast members. Gibson truly is the star of the evening. On Axel's staff is Kilroy (Brian Keith Rhodes), who operates "by the rules" and despises this punk kid, Axel, for riding on the coattails of his father's success. Rhodes delivers the right dose of "uptight pencil pusher/ass-kisser" overtones that fit his character's motives quite well, and he has a hilarious scene in act two. In the role of Burns, the clumsy assistant, Steve Sheridan is a ball of energy. This actor had me guffawing out loud each time he stepped on the stage. Sheridan uses his body, face, and voice in creating a hysterical performance. He takes a minor role that really is just "set dressing" and turns it into a scene stealing character. Also in the embassy is a priest who is a refugee and has been living there for years, Father Drobney (Warren Blackstone). Father Drobney has passed the time by teaching himself magic tricks, but not very well. Blackstone, while enjoyable, has pace problems throughout the evening. He also has an accent whose origin is lost on me. Since this comedy takes place behind the Iron Curtain, you need actors who can bring forth strong and believable dialects and accents of Mother Russia. Sadly, in this area, the actors do not achieve success. Daniel Schneider, as the Russian Krojack, is also weighed down by an accent that goes from Slavic to German, or disappears altogether. Schneider does give Krojack a solid coat of "cold spy", but the troublesome accent hurts his characterization. The embassy is left in the hands of Alex by his father, Ambassador Magee, played nicely by Jim Garrity. But Alex's calm world is turned upside down when a family, the Hollanders from New Jersey who are in Europe on vacation, are accused by Krojack as being American spies. The Hollanders are Walter (Paul Curfman), who back in Jersey co-owns a catering business that specializes in weddings, his wife, Marion (Laura G. Wilcox), and their daughter Susan (Karina Yzobel Brewington), who is to be married once they get back to New Jersey. Curfman has problems with his New Jersey accent and he delivers his lines in a very distinct sing song fashion that causes the jokes to miss their marks. He pushes too hard at times for the comedy, forcing the punchline to go over the top. But when he lets the jokes fall naturally, he gets the laughs. Some of the physical comedy moments that Curfman has are too big; they need work in getting on a more realistic level. Ms. Wilcox's performance hits the bull's-eye throughout the evening. Her Jersey accent sounds natural and very believable. Wilcox gives her comedy a sort of "off the top of my head" approach, as though Mrs. Hollander has no idea that she is saying something funny, and that's what makes Wilcox's performance stand out. The role could have easily become irritating and one note, but Wilcox gives her character various levels of volume and comic pizzazz, all of which work beautifully for her. She is truly a delight in this production. Brewington is assigned a role that, sadly, is just one of those typical "damsel in distress" roles that seep into so many comedies. Brewington does achieve success, though, in creating a pleasant character that you care for as the evening progresses. Rounding the cast in entertaining performances are Justin McKean as the Chef and Freddy Verver as the Sultan of Bashir. Even with some of its problems, OnStage's production of Don't Drink the Water is very entertaining with its wild cast of hilarious performances and excellent direction. Don't Drink the Water CAST Father Drobney...................Warren Blackstone |
