Last night I accompanied a friend to Theatre de la Juene Lune for a performance called Fishtank. No one ever says they’re going to a play at Jeune Lune, even though it’s a theater in which actors tread the boards. It is always a performance. That’s because Jeune Lune’s work often defies categorization—which is the beauty of it. Hard to explain, though. I might be best off saying, “Go. Dive in. See what you think.” But I do like to render my opinion, so here’s a bit of seaweed to chew on.

First of all, I liked Fishtank. Someone at the pre-show reception said they’d heard it was a slapstick comedy. Ugh. Slapstick appeals to me like saltwater tea. My friend saw me look at my watch, then glance at the exit. “No, I heard it’s more like theater of the absurd,” she interjected, steering me toward a bowl of tail-on shrimp.

Not everyone agrees with me about Fishtank. Click here for my debate with Jay Gabler, arts editor of Twin Cities Daily Planet.

As it turns out, Fishtank is a lot like watching kids inventing games on a playground, except that the characters are spouting existentialist dialogue.  read more »