‘Don’t Drink the Water’

But do see the play

Beth Boscardin

It takes a lot of guts to stand in front of an audience, expecting a perfect performance, and pretend to be someone else.

But it takes more guts to stand, inexperienced, before seasoned director Mr. Al DiMauro and practice pretending to be someone else.

Renowned for being a disciplined, perfectionist, he has managed to sustain the rigors of dealing with inexperienced, yet sometimes cocky Marian drama students through ten years of musical productions and three plays.

"Mr. DiMauro is a good director because he give you a perspective of the time period and that shows you how to better act the part," said junior Amanda Meier, playing.

As director, DiMauro unrelentingly controls the choice of play and the casting of characters. Straying from the somewhat horrifying plots and convoluted language of old English and greek plays, Antigone in 2002 and Macbeth in 2003, he's chosen the humor and witticisms of Woody Allen this year.

"I chose this play because of the diversity of characters and humorous antics," said DiMauro.

Colorful characters and personalities stand out in this 1969 film ranging from a bumbling, accident prone ambassador, to an absurd, frenzied nun that relates the story of Bulgarian officials seeking to arrest an innocent family as spies. After taking refuge in the United States embassy, they discover they are but little safer because the ambassador has left her blundering son in charge.

"Well, as I typically am so agile, it's hard for me to fall on cue and act like a klutz," says Thomas Boscardin, who plays the blundering ambassador's son.

Before erecting a stage in the quad, the group practiced in room 214 after school Monday through Thursday until 5:30 starting in the middle of January. Finally, a week before opening night, Feb. 26, they have set up the temporary stage and practiced the actual blocking, movement around the stage.

Marge Kennedy, playing as cook, enjoys this blocking as she said, "I really like the characters in the play. I especially enjoy chasing people around the stage with a potato masher."

While there are three boys in the play senior Dan Moluff and sophomore Thomas Boscardin from Creighton Prep and Ryan Lampe from Creighton University, many of the male roles in the play have been changed to female, which brings up some challenges. Many of the rehearsals are just fun.

Describing an entertaining moment at rehearsal, junior Megan Leonard, said, "Once when Mr. DiMauro was playing Ryan Lampe's part, he said, 'I feel like a little old man.' Then Abby Vandenberg said, 'Mr. DiMauro, you are a little old man.' Everyone laughed at that one."

Student and director relations are usually peaceful, especially as student director Casey Langwith, sometimes acts as mediator.

Senior Abby Vandenberg thinks everything will go very well. "The people are all really amazing, and we work very well together. We have a blast together every night," she said.

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