"Don't Drink the Water", a farce written by Woody Allen, premiered on Broadway on November 17, 1966. It was later made into a 1969 film. The entire play takes place inside the American embassy of an unnamed communist country behind the Iron Curtain. While his father, the American ambassador, is away, Axel Magee (Jack Connolly) is left in charge of the embassy. An elderly American tourist couple named Marion (Samantha Zucker) and Walter (Jake Blonstein) are caught taking pictures in a restricted area and seek asylum in the Embassy with their 20-something daughter, Susan (Greta Rosenstock). Axel must find a way to get the family home safely.

Blonstein and Zucker absolutely stole the show as the hilarious, crochety old tourist couple from New Jersey. Their body language and accent conveyed their characters' ages and personalities very effectively, and their comedic timing was brilliant. The pair also worked extremely well with each other, making the relationship between husband and wife believable and present. Connolly also was memorable as the bumbling Axel Magee. He pulled of Axel's timid and despairing attitude with consistency. Rosenstock portrayed her young character with confidence, and despite a tendency to rush through lines, her confidence and expression gave her a strong stage presence.

Kilroy (Alex Tash) was outstanding as the ambassador's haughty assistant. Tash's facial expressions added to the hilarity of his delivered lines, and even the way he walked was perfect for his character. His scenes were all among the best in the show. The embassy chef (Matthew Greenbaum) also deserves credit for his dynamic performance. Although only in a few scenes, Greenbaum made his character memorable with his exaggerated French accent and dramatic comedic timing. His classic "oh-ho-ho!" noise drew a laugh every time. Sister Drobney (Karlie Pinder) delivered another strong performance as a nun living in the embassy. Her physical humor, especially in the scene where she is stuck in a straight jacket, was admirable.

The set (Nick Bible and Emily Walters) was extremely well-done and looked professional. The mahoganey desk, real chandelier, and stamped wallpaper all added to the feel of a real embassy room, and the arched doorways and mural outside the windows were especially impressive. The lights (Christina Runk) never faltered or missed a cue, and the songs between scene added a nice touch. The make-up was impressive, especially on the elderly couple. Their age make-up was flawless and looked realistic.

The actors and technicians worked very well together to create an outstanding production. The actors had chemistry with one another onstage and really brought the story to life, while the technicians enabled all that to happen.

"Don't Drink the Water" offered an evening filled with laughter and sympathy, something not expected to come out from behind the Iron Curtain.