Don't Drink the Water (play)
Encyclopedia
Don't Drink the Water is a play
written by Woody Allen
that premiered on Broadway
on November 17, 1966 and played for 598 performances at three different Broadway theaters. The farce
takes place inside an American Embassy behind the Iron Curtain
. Although Allen contributed material for the 1960 Broadway musical revue From A to Z, this was Allen's first professionally produced play. A movie version
was released three years later starring Jackie Gleason
, and Woody Allen
both directed and played the lead in a 1994 television rendition featuring Michael J. Fox
.
, Kay Medford
and Anita Gillette
as the Hollander family. Tony Roberts
and Donna Mills
were also in the cast. Richard Libertini
also appeared, as Father Drobney, and reprised the role in the 1969 theatrical version
.
According to the book Conversations with Woody Allen by Eric Lax
, Allen says that Vivian Vance
, who he thought was wrong for the part, was originally cast but was replaced by Kay Medford, whom he believes brought the character to life.
The production was directed by Stanley Prager
and produced by David Merrick
with Charles H. Joffe and Jack Rollins
.
The parents, Walter and Marion, act buffoonish and make business at the embassy hard, especially after Walter insults a high-class sultan. The family's adult daughter Susan bonds with Axel, causing him to develop feelings for her despite the fact that she is engaged. After the mess with the Sultan, Axel's father demotes him and puts his suck-up assistant Kilroy in charge instead. Kilroy almost immediately fixes the problem and arranges an exchange for a communist spy in jail in America. The communist police head Krojack still believes that the Hollanders are spies and confronts Walter. Walter, assuming that he is free, jokingly admits that he is. Kilroy then announces that the exchange has been called off. Krojack plans to increase the hostilities against the embassy. Susan, who has recently announced her engagement has been called off, and Axel kiss, to Walter's horror.
There are now riots outside the embassy but Walter is much more preoccupied by Axel and Susan's relationship. Axel and Susan come up with a plan to escape by using a party in the Sultan's honor as a cover while Father Drobney, a priest in the embassy, works out the details. Walter is given a gun for the escape and accidentally shoots and wounds Kilroy. During the party Walter and Marion go through several problems, mainly due to screwing up their own secret identities. Once finally making it out Walter accidentally shoots someone again-Axel's father. The escape has failed...until Axel discovers the Sultan and his wife are still in the house. Disguising Walter and Marion as the couple, they plan to continue with the original escape. As for Susan, Axel plans to give her diplomatic immunity as the wife of a diplomat: him! Walter and Marion escape as Father Drobney marries Axel and Susan.
This play is a comedy, housing many ironic characters. Such as the slightly crazy chef, unpleaseable Walter and Axel Magee himself, being a notorious screwup.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
written by Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
that premiered on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
on November 17, 1966 and played for 598 performances at three different Broadway theaters. The farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
takes place inside an American Embassy behind the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
. Although Allen contributed material for the 1960 Broadway musical revue From A to Z, this was Allen's first professionally produced play. A movie version
Don't Drink the Water (1969 film)
Don't Drink the Water is a 1969 comedy film starring Jackie Gleason and directed by Howard Morris. It was based upon a 1966 play of the same name by Woody Allen, who hated this version. In 1994 he remade Water for television, with himself in the Gleason role...
was released three years later starring Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
, and Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
both directed and played the lead in a 1994 television rendition featuring Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
.
Broadway Cast and Crew
The cast included Lou JacobiLou Jacobi
Louis Harold "Lou" Jacobi was a Canadian character actor.-Life and career:Jacobi was born Louis Harold Jacobovitch in Toronto, Ontario to Joseph and Fay Jacobivitch...
, Kay Medford
Kay Medford
Kay Medford , was an American character actress and comedienne.She was born Margaret Kathleen O'Regan in New York City to James and Mary O'Regan, first-generation Irish-American parents, both of whom had died by the time she was 15 years old...
and Anita Gillette
Anita Gillette
Anita Gillette is an American actress, most notable for her work on Broadway and as a celebrity guest on various game shows....
as the Hollander family. Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts (actor)
David Anthony "Tony" Roberts is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in several Woody Allen movies, usually cast as Allen's best friend.-Early life:...
and Donna Mills
Donna Mills
Donna Mills is an American actress, most well known for her role as Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing.-Early years:...
were also in the cast. Richard Libertini
Richard Libertini
Richard Libertini is an American stage, film and television actor known for playing numerous character roles and his ability to speak in numerous accents....
also appeared, as Father Drobney, and reprised the role in the 1969 theatrical version
Don't Drink the Water (1969 film)
Don't Drink the Water is a 1969 comedy film starring Jackie Gleason and directed by Howard Morris. It was based upon a 1966 play of the same name by Woody Allen, who hated this version. In 1994 he remade Water for television, with himself in the Gleason role...
.
According to the book Conversations with Woody Allen by Eric Lax
Eric Lax
Eric Lax is an American biographer and author of On Being Funny: Woody Allen and Comedy as well as several other books and articles.He graduated from Hobart College in 1966 with a major in English. Upon graduating he joined the Peace Corps serving in Chuuk and the Caroline Islands in the western...
, Allen says that Vivian Vance
Vivian Vance
Vivian Roberta Jones was an American television and theater actress and singer. Often referred to as “TV’s most beloved second banana,” she is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy...
, who he thought was wrong for the part, was originally cast but was replaced by Kay Medford, whom he believes brought the character to life.
The production was directed by Stanley Prager
Stanley Prager
Stanley Prager was an American actor and a television and theatre director.Born in New York City, Prager began his career as the stage manager for the Broadway production The Skin of Our Teeth in 1942...
and produced by David Merrick
David Merrick
David Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
with Charles H. Joffe and Jack Rollins
Jack Rollins
Jack Rollins may refer to:* Jack Rollins , long-time producer of Woody Allen's films* Walter E. Rollins , American songwriter, nicknamed "Jack"...
.
Plot
In an unnamed European country behind the Iron Curtain, the American Ambassador must leave the Embassy for business. In his absence he places his incompetent son Axel Magee in charge. Almost immediately the Embassy is thrust into a crisis as the Hollanders, an American family of tourists, come rushing in on the run from the Communist police. Walter, the father, had accidentally snuck into a high security area and taken pictures, causing the communists to believe that the family are spies. Axel digs the hole deeper and the embassy is surrounded, leaving the Hollanders trapped.The parents, Walter and Marion, act buffoonish and make business at the embassy hard, especially after Walter insults a high-class sultan. The family's adult daughter Susan bonds with Axel, causing him to develop feelings for her despite the fact that she is engaged. After the mess with the Sultan, Axel's father demotes him and puts his suck-up assistant Kilroy in charge instead. Kilroy almost immediately fixes the problem and arranges an exchange for a communist spy in jail in America. The communist police head Krojack still believes that the Hollanders are spies and confronts Walter. Walter, assuming that he is free, jokingly admits that he is. Kilroy then announces that the exchange has been called off. Krojack plans to increase the hostilities against the embassy. Susan, who has recently announced her engagement has been called off, and Axel kiss, to Walter's horror.
There are now riots outside the embassy but Walter is much more preoccupied by Axel and Susan's relationship. Axel and Susan come up with a plan to escape by using a party in the Sultan's honor as a cover while Father Drobney, a priest in the embassy, works out the details. Walter is given a gun for the escape and accidentally shoots and wounds Kilroy. During the party Walter and Marion go through several problems, mainly due to screwing up their own secret identities. Once finally making it out Walter accidentally shoots someone again-Axel's father. The escape has failed...until Axel discovers the Sultan and his wife are still in the house. Disguising Walter and Marion as the couple, they plan to continue with the original escape. As for Susan, Axel plans to give her diplomatic immunity as the wife of a diplomat: him! Walter and Marion escape as Father Drobney marries Axel and Susan.
This play is a comedy, housing many ironic characters. Such as the slightly crazy chef, unpleaseable Walter and Axel Magee himself, being a notorious screwup.