Original production directed by Alexis Milligan, Stage Managed by Sylvia Bell, Lighting Design Jessica Lewis
Featuring Jeremy Webb and Stacy Smith
Fishing
Jeremy Webb’s play took a few years to come to life. It also took a week of dating complete strangers from a popular dating website in seven days of intense research.
“The dating week was a few years ago, way back at the beginning,” he explains. “I was single at the time, so it was ok. I had come up with the premise and the title for Fishing in 2009 and knew it would require a lot of hands on research.”
Fishing premiered as part of the SuperNova Festival in May 2009, run by Eastern Front Theatre, then proceeded to tour the Maritimes for ten days. It then ran for a number of years across the Eastern Provinces.
“With a new play, you really are throwing yourself on the mercy of the audience. You never know if they’ll nibble your hook,” Webb smiles. “The reaction was great. The reviews were kind and we were thrilled to be invited to perform again over those first few years.”
The plot
In Fishing, Paul Fisher is a 40-something, single, newspaper cartoonist. He has a failed marriage behind him and a history of ‘going-nowhere’ relationships. Although he assumes there is no hope; he is not alone. He is persuaded by his boss to join the global internet dating site ‘Gone-Fishing.net’.
Somehow Paul manages to get seven “nibbles” and arranges seven ‘dates’ in seven days. FISHING is about week in the bizarre world of internet dating. One in five relationships now start on the internet, but every date arranged over cyberspace is potentially hazardous to your health.
At the end of his seven days, Paul Fisher will definitely never be the same again; but will he have landed the fish of his dreams?
Fishing originally featured Webb, Stacy Smith and was directed by Alexis Milligan.
“It was actually a conversation with a theatre manager in Glace Bay that encouraged me to get down to writing this one,” he explains. “She mentioned that she wished I had a mainstream comedy available, one that would appeal to everyone.”
Fishing is aimed at anyone who has dated, anyone who has a failed relationship behind them and, of course, anyone who has tried internet dating.
“There are some strange folks on those sites and some of what happened to me in researching this play you would not believe.” But he is quick to point out that the sites work too! Webb met his partner Melissa on one such site soon after the research week. “It was amazing! I logged on to delete the account and there she was.”
The couple have been together ever since and now have two boys. “Fishing isn’t really my story,” says Webb. “But it’s certainly similar!”
reviews
“You’ll fall for this play hook, line and sinker.” The Coast – May 2012
“The writing is light and funny.” The Coast
“Fishing, directed by Alexis Milligan, is full of snap, wit and sparkle with a lively pace and Webb’s gift for holding and swaying an audience.” The Herald
“There is a depth to this comedy is not readily apparent during the hilarious mismatches.” The Herald
“You’ll laugh a lot.” The Herald
“The play works on two levels. The first is that Webb is very gifted at writing dialogue jammed packed with jokes in a way that doesn’t feel artificial and also, that much of the comedy comes from the interaction between Webb’s “Fish” and a multitude of zany nightmare dates played by the magnificent Stacy Smith.” The Way I See It – Theatre Blog
“(Fishing) offers some real insights into the reality of finding love” The Way I See It – Theatre Blog
“A fun and fascinating foray into the sometimes murky depths of online romance.” Arts East Blog
