Community Players open 'Don't Drink the Water'

The Bigfork Community Players will kick off their season with “Don’t Drink the Water,” opening Friday.

The two-act comedy is written by Woody Allen and takes place in a U.S. Embassy behind the Iron Curtain in 1961.

The play features a family from Newark, N.J., that is traveling in Europe. Due to a misunderstanding, the family takes refuge from the secret police in the U.S. Embassy.

The play follows the family’s attempts to escape and its time in the embassy, including a series of mishaps and a little love interest.

“It’s definitely a comedy,” director Karen Kolar said. “And it’s G-rated.”

The cast is a “flexible” 20, Kolar said, noting that the sultan character seems to be continuing to attract wives “like clothes in a dryer without a dryer sheet.” The cast ranges in age from 18 to 70.

“There’s just a really fun array of characters,” she said. “I have such a strong and wide-range cast. We have some people who have been on stage for years and others who are brand new.”

Preparations for opening night haven’t been without their challenges.

One cast member backed out about a week ago, which left Kolar scrambling to fill a role. Colton Christensen, recognized from his roles in the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre’s productions, stepped in to help out.

“He agreed without even seeing the script,” she said. “He’s rescuing us.”

The play will be performed at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. on Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 24 and 31.

“It’s pretty cheap entertainment,” Kolar said. “It’s a good way to support community theater. And you can see people you know on stage.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and BCP members, and $5 for children under the age of 12.

Tickets may be purchased at Bigfork Drug, Sliter’s in Somers, the Grand Hotel in Kalispell, at the door or from any cast member.

For more information, visit www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com.