Festival Antigonish Presents A ‘Fishing Play’ No One Can Say!

"The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby" by Norm Foster

When an investment banker’s car breaks down near the sleepy town of Kooshog Lake, he finds himself in the thick of one of the most competitive fishing derbies known to man. A charming story of love, laughter and history in a small forgotten town – complete with romance, broken hearts and a shark attack.

“We just call it the Fishing Play!” says Artistic Director, Andrea Boyd.

The title may be a tongue twister, that even catches up some of the cast, but that shouldn’t keep audiences from diving into this hilarious catch-and-release comedy adventure!   

When a somewhat naïve investment banker’s car breaks down near the sleepy town of Kooshog Lake, he unwittingly finds himself tangled in the most competitive fishing derby of all time, joining, wise, witty and wonderful locals to catch the elusive fish named Hollis McCauley.  

Actors in photo: Anat Kriger, Mary-Colin Chisholm, Stephanie MacDonald

“Laughter is always the best bait” says Boyd. Audiences can wade into Festival Antigonish Summer Theater’s Bauer Theatre, August 9th to 24th, to enjoy The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby by Canada’s most popular playwright, Norm Foster.

It’s a perfect catch for those fishing for laughs, or tall tales; as any fisherman knows, catching a fish is easy, it’s the storytelling afterward that’s the real sport. Playwright Foster embraced that sport, describing his play as a “quirky, off-the-wall kind of comedy, with lines the audience won’t see coming.” Foster’s work is often described as “Funny and heart-warming,” says Director Boyd, “it won’t just make you laugh, yes, you’ll leave the theatre feeling good, but still thinking about the somewhat sit-com nature of our own lives.”  

Actors in photo: Anat Kriger, Wally MacKinnon, Mary-Colin Chisholm

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Featuring Mary-Colin Chisholm, Wally MacKinnon, Allister MacDonald, Anat Kriger and Stephanie MacDonald

Directed by Andrea BoydStage Manager Sarah O’BrienSet Design by Vickie MarstonCostume Design by Elizabeth PerryLighting Design by Ingrid RiskSound Design by Paul Morgan Donald