Feeding the Moonfish Summary / Study Guide

• eNotes
• Group

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.

Navigate

See Also:

• - Feeding the Moonfish summary and study guide in the eNotes.

Tell a friend about Feeding the Moonfish at eNotes.