HARRISON — “New York Water,” the Deertrees Theatre Festival’s third production of the 2009 season, opens with a not-so-typical, first-date conversation:

“I’ve lived a very ordinary life. I came from a typical middle-class family, my mother an alcoholic, my father a homosexual. I spent three years in an institution, had a bout with drugs and accidently killed my grandfather when I was 9.”

“To live in this city and only have that little wrong with you, you’re a breath of fresh air.”

From there onward, it’s a laugh a line as Linda, a receptionist, and Albert, a misfit accountant, decide that New York City is holding them back and try to make a go of it together in Davenport, Iowa.

And then it’s on to Los Angeles.

While Linda turns out to be a dynamo with killer instincts, even becoming a major player in the movie business, Albert finds himself falling further and further down the ladder of success.

“Albert,” says Linda, “What we are experiencing is a situation that happens all the time here in Hollywood – you know, where the wife is a hot shot moneymaker like myself and the husband is … well, sort of like you.”

Sam Bobrick, author of “New York Water,” is one of Broadway’s most unheralded humorists. However, his plays, which appear to be the stuff of simple-minded sitcom on the surface, have something serious to say about relationships, values and the quality of life.

The play is directed by Jane Stojak, founder and executive director of Random Acts of Theater in Philadelphia and director of the 2006 Deertrees Theatre Festival’s “Grace & Glorie.”

“New York Water” will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 20-22. Tickets are $20, $10 for students. They are available at the Cool Moose in Bridgton, the Country Sleigh in Naples, Books N Things in Bethel, Fare-Share Coop in Norway; by calling the box office at 583-6747; and online at www.deertreestheatre.org.