Pearl River High School Presents: Don't Drink The Water

Director Rene Dalandan knew the Pearl River High School Drama for 2012 would be important after there was no play last year.

"With that in mind, we want to work to restoring theater program," Dalandan said. "I picked material they would find interesting. Interest has been very strong among the students. We had seven roles and 35 people competing for them. A lot of kids signed on as extras. We have reliable stagehands. This involves about 50 high school students in cast and crew."

The material is Don't Drink the Water, which was Woody Allen's first Broadway production in 1966. There will be two performances, 7 p.m. today and Saturday.

"I chose it because it’s very funny and I feel we need laughter at a time like this," Dalandan said. "It also gives us a picture of life under Communism and how it had affected us. There is a lot of history, so it would be very educational for students participating in it and the audience, too.

"It’s also done in a comedic way, so the message gets through quicker through comedy."

The play tells the story of an American family mistaken for spies because they accidently took pictures of classified military installations.

"The communists soldiers try to arrest them and they seek refuge in the American embassy," Dalandan said. "Everything goes wrong in the embassy. Ho do you get out of the country when everything is run by people with good intentions who get everything wrong?"

Dalandan said the growth of the theater department is important due to the opportunity it provides for the students who participate.

"They are taught how to project," Dalandan said. "They learn all of the dynamics of acting in a production. I also go into the back stage work to make sure everything is right in place.

"I've been involved in a lot of productions on stage and off. Expectations are very high here. I make sure they get it. It looks like they are going to do a good job this week."

Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for students.