←Recommendations of for the fish

A wonderful period piece about facing who we are no matter how uncomfortable.

Set in 1974, Surrey Houlker’s “for the fish” connects the political turmoil of Watergate with the emotional turmoil of Susanna, a gay thirteen year old searching for acceptance in a small conservative town. Susanna finds solace with her lonely non-binary uncle, who salves alienation by going fishing. Structured lyrically, scenes alternate with “in between bits” (dumb show and monologues), and culminate in wrenching surrealism. The play’s power builds from the accumulation of small consolations: cigarettes, dancing, new shoes. Ultimately “for the fish” revels in brave acts of love and hope in an age of reaction. Very highly recommended.

What a gift this play is to queer theatre and what a master class in how to create rich, nuanced characters. Susanna perfectly encapsulates the pre-teen/teenage struggle of who we are and who we are supposed to become, and Uncle serves as an incredibly honest parental figure who is trying their best to figure it all out. Lots of humor, empathy, and connection bleed through this text. A must read and must produce!

This play feels like a time capsule in so many ways. Taking place at the end of the Nixon administration/beginning of the Ford administration, full of music from the era, and with a heavy dose of magic realism, this is an engaging story about coming of age and coming to terms.

The best magical realism blurs the line between objective reality and world as experienced by its characters. FOR THE FISH possesses this dream-like ambiguity, and in doing so, allows us direct access to its characters’ tender, searching hearts.

The unspoken bond of queerness between Susanna and her Uncle anchors this play. The subtlety and specificity of their relationship stands in effective contrast to the surreally theatrical talking fish who threatens it. Houlker creates a strong sense of time and place with her expressive stage directions. Designers, puppeteers, and imaginative theatre makers will thrill to take a crack at it.

What I love most about this play is how much it feels like putting on a record from the late 60s and letting the sound wash over you. "for the fish" has bright, playful moments, just as it has moments of real darkness; but throughout the play's entire runtime the characters exude a warmth and ache that are borne of the struggle to find home. "for the fish" is a smart, lovely play about people finding the courage to be themselves.