Emmet L.F. Cameron has written a comedy rich in sour backstory and sweet characterization (and the audience will feel hope that Jess and Tess form at least a strong friendship with the promise of more picnics in the future). I'd love to see more stories of joy and connection in rural settings, and "Catfish Picnic" more than fits the bill.

As unapologetically rural as it is queer, this is a play about Jess and Tess, and how nothing in life and love is simple, not even chocolate chip cookies (no matter how delicious they may be). Like a good cookie, this play leaves you craving more.

A fresh and emotionally honest two-hander, Catfish Picnic blends humor, vulnerability, and sharp contemporary insight. Emmet L.F. Cameron captures the complexities of online identity, deception, and queer connection with authentic, fast-paced dialogue. Beneath the wit lies a tender exploration of trust, self-worth, and community, culminating in a quietly hopeful moment of human connection.