A comedy set in "the smallest country in the world" (but it isn't the Vatican). A play on the Romeo and Juliet story, only these lovers are star-crossed by political ideology, when the daughter of an American diplomat falls in love with the son of a Soviet diplomat, both of whom are trying to convince the leader of the unnamed country to promise allegiance to their government. Some farcical comedy, some post-modern self-referential comedy, and a lot of Cold War rhetorical comedy, but it's still a weak piece. This isn't just because it's dated, or because the iron curtain fell, but because it tries too hard to be more than it is. It's a gimmick, and the gimmick drives the piece, trying desperately to hide the lack of originality and wit. Not horrible, but not particularly good either. This goes down in the annals of mediocrity. ( )

3