Blue Heron Theatre Company to present 'Don’t Drink the Water'

'Don't Drink the Water' premie...

HOLLY, Michigan —Alert the State Department—there’s shenanigans behind the Iron Curtain in Woody Allen’s classic comedy of pseudo-spies, diplomats, secret police, tourists and lovers, Don’t Drink the Water.

It’s 1969, and just as the Ambassador of an American Embassy in Communist Europe is about to leave, the Hollander family comes crashing in, pursued by the Communist Police. Suddenly, it’s chaos as the Ambassador’s bumbling son Axel must handle this hapless band of tourists, the riots that have started outside of the gates, and a budding love affair between him and the Hollander’s daughter Susan.

With characters that only Woody Allen could invent, Don’t Drink the Water features both veterans and newcomers to the Blue Heron Theatre Company. Marion and Walter Hollender are played by the familiar Brian Catton and Linda Mishler, and daughter Susan Hollender is played by Savannah Damoth. New to the Blue Heron stage are George Kullis (Ambassador Magee) and John LaCroix (Axel Magee). Also featured are Al Bartlett (Kilroy), Larry LaFerriere (Krojack), Matthew Semrau (Father Drobney), Gary Musgrave (Burns), Terry Connell (the Chef), Jonathan Smith (Sultan Yanis Kasnar) and Diane Kullis (the Countess Bordoni).

Don’t Drink the Water is directed by Joseph M. Mishler, and is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Performances of Don’t Drink the Water will be on Feb. 14-16 and 21-23 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. The Blue Heron Theatre Company performs at the Karl Richter Campus Auditorium, 920 East Baird Street. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and may be purchased at the door, at the Holly Township Library, 1116 S. Saginaw St., or at the Great Lakes Market Place, 107 S. Saginaw St. Credit cards are accepted. Tickets may also be reserved by calling (810) 931-7108.

Photo courtesy of Terry L. Connell.