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Feeding the Moonfish | Introduction

Feeding the Moonfish is a one-act play by Barbara Wiechmann, first performed in New York in 1988. The work is a brief study of two very unlikely companions and the powerful, life-transforming bond they form in the course of one evening. This compelling story draws on the power of natural forces, the tragedy of murder, the importance of memory, and the magical influence of the stars to shape the characters and provide a solid framework for the play. Although there are no direct references anchoring the setting in any given time period, the tone of the work reflects the social malaise of the 1980s, characterized by the advent of AIDS, Chernobyl, and the Iran Contra Affair. Despite its economy in form, Feeding the Moonfish has the power to illuminate a brief moment in time, demonstrating that an innocent exchange between strangers can change everything.

Much of Wiechmann’s contemporary life and works are not formally chronicled; however, Feeding the Moonfish is included in Eric Lane’s Telling Tales: New One Act Plays. Published in 1993, the work is a compendium of contemporary one-act plays from some of today’s best playwrights in contemporary theater.

Feeding the Moonfish Summary

The setting for Feeding the Moonfish is a dock on a saltwater lake in southern Florida. The action takes place in one evening. As the play opens, the audience hears two or three long whistles and then a series of overlapping voices. ‘‘Martin, Martin, Martin,’’ chant the voices of the moonfish as they welcome him ‘‘home.’’ Martin responds as if he has indeed returned from a long journey. Martin asks (referring to his father): ‘‘Can I see him? I want to see him.’’ The moonfish ignore his persistent requests, instructing him to close his eyes and ‘‘Tell us we’re beautiful.’’

Martin tells the moonfish about a dream where he was flying in a plane. He describes it in great detail, from the moment he hits the mattress and ‘‘some stewardess is strapping me in.’’ He takes a flight into a deep blue sky, and it’s as if he were levitating or floating weightlessly ‘‘in blue heaven.’’ He describes a flight complete with ‘‘movies, brunettes and cocktail almonds.’’ After he shares his dream, Martin tells them that he is ‘‘home,’’ his memories are ‘‘hot and heavy.’’ The moonfish then ask him to put his face in the water, Martin responds and asks to see ‘‘pieces of him’’ floating in the coral.

Eden arrives, breaking the hypnotic trance evoked by the chanting of Martin and the moonfish. She is curious, while Martin is defensive, demanding to know how long she has been standing there. Eden admits to stowing away in the back of Martin’s car, curious to see where he goes after work. She explains her actions, saying, ‘‘you sweat to death side by side of someone . . . an they never speak a word to you, never pass the time of day, never basically even look at you, an you get curious—you know?’’ And, Martin concludes that waitresses are ‘‘all alike,’’ telling Eden that she merely seeks attention.

Eden protests Martin’s order that she ‘‘go home,’’ claiming that she could be ‘‘harassed or raped or chopped up or worse.’’ She does not understand why Martin is not flattered by her attention, nor does she understand his fascination with the rotting dock or the fish in the water. She asks what the huge fish are called and responds with skepticism when Martin tells her that the moonfish feed off the dock at night when the moon shines, explaining:

‘‘The moon’s got a force, an it pulls an pulls at the insides of these fish and locks em into a way of behaving,’’ he tells her. ‘‘They got no minds of their own anymore. Once the moon’s got em they’re hopeless beyond all control. All they got is moon minds.’’

Eden continues to ask questions, and Martin responds by turning the conversation back to her and her own personal history. Eden shares that her father was beaten to death and that her mother and grandmother are responsible; however, only her mother went to prison. Her grandmother is under surveillance in a nursing home. Martin suggests, ‘‘There... » Complete Feeding the Moonfish Summary