'Fisherman' shares important lesson

Breakaway Theatre Productions' latest show highlights the importance of being thankful for what you have.

Co-directed by Dan Salamone and John Trent and written by Trent, "The Fisherman and His Wife" runs Friday through Oct. 21 at Gallery 34 in Marysville.

"'The Fisherman and His Wife is about a poor fisherman (Trent) and his poor wife (Betsy Johnson) who live in a filthy, rundown shack. The husband wants to do everything he can for his wife, but the wife wants more," Salamone said.

"As the plot goes on, you'll see that she's not satisfied with what she has."

The wife orders the fisherman to go out and catch them something to eat for dinner, but instead, he catches a magic flounder (Sydney Johnson) that can grant wishes, Salamone said.

The flounder tells the fisherman that she is really an enchanted princess and begs him to let her live. When the fisherman returns home empty-handed and explains to his wife that he couldn't bring himself to kill the magic flounder, the wife demands that the fisherman return to the flounder and make her use her magic to give the wife a better home.

The flounder agrees to grant the fisherman's request. But the wife's greedy demands don't stop there.

The cast includes Ethyn Fox and Saidy Iraiqat.

"It's a really happy, family-oriented play, and it has a universal message," Salamone said. "There's a moral to this story, and I think everyone will appreciate it — children and adults both.

"You're gonna laugh because there's a lot of funny scenes in it," Salamone said.

Betsy Johnson has won two Elly Awards, and the script was nominated for an Elly Award in 2007, Salamone said.

Breakaway Theatre Productions recently moved from the Friday Night Live building to Gallery 34. "For us, this has been a great move because the folks we're working with now at Gallery 34 and the Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council are just the best people in the world to work with," Salamone said.

"If you like live theater, and you appreciate good actors and you like to laugh and be entertained by people who have been entertaining for years, come to this play. You're gonna enjoy it. And when you leave, you'll be talking about it," Salamone said.

"We think you're really going to enjoy it."

CONTACT Susan Benitez at sbenitez@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4773. Find her on Facebook at /ADFeatures or on Twitter at @adfeatures.