Allen play a show to remember as presented by students

Dramatic police chases, a friendly priestturned-magician and botched international spy exchanges — these may not seem like part of your average family vacation, but for the Hollanders, they’re just another day in the life.

Comedy, emotion and unpredictability all came together to provide an uproarious night of entertainment at Eden High School’s performance of Don’t Drink the Water. play, Don’t Drink the Water features a farcical cast of characters against the politically charged backdrop of the Cold War. In the American embassy of an unnamed country behind the Iron Curtain, the incompetent Axel Magee is given one last chance to handle business in the place of his father; however, his good intentions quickly go awry when a family of tourists on the run from the secret police burst in looking for asylum. Accused of being spies after cluelessly wandering into a top security area to snap some photos, the Hollander family causes chaos with their knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Eden’s cast skilfully handled the play, showcasing their acting ability with a series of scenes that left the audience in stitches. The well-chosen comedic talent kept the characters relatable throughout the progressively more unrealistic situations they were thrown into. This allowed an arrestingly real picture of the rest of the world to be painted by the actors, expanding the story far beyond the walls of the room. Through Walter and Marion’s squabbling about their lives and Father Drobney’s narration, people and events that were never shown seemed as substantial as the physical scene before the audience’s eyes.

Standout performances included Bailly Grigg and Jesse Klassen as Marion and Walter Hollander, an American couple with a penchant for arguing. The pair’s natural comedic timing, supplemented with thick New Jersey accents, brought their characters to life through both their bickering and their more tender moments, however rare. Axel Magee’s selfdeprecating sense of humour, along with the well-meaning intents behind his sometimes disastrous actions, were also captured excellently by Carson Suggett’s use of expression.

The scene was set entirely in the main room of the embassy, with details like the green- striped walls and the classic rotary phone on the desk transporting the drama back to the ’60s. The passage of time was portrayed through subtle prop and costume changes, something that added an extra layer of realism to the lives of those stuck in the embassy. The timing of the lighting and sound effects were also commendable, from the well-executed flashing of a bomb to Axel’s not-so-subtle attempts to spark a romance by lowering the lights in his office. The technical aspects as a whole were well-chosen and added polish to the piece.

The comedic prowess and chemistry of the cast, paired with the thoughtful directorial choices, had the audience laughing, cringing and gasping along with the characters.

At the end of the night, Eden’s performance of Don’t Drink the Water was an abundance of fun and ultimately a show to remember.