‘The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby’
Written by Norm Foster • Directed by Nancy Bondurant-Couch
Produced by Catskill Community Players • Spring 2019
Performances will be held at
The Wieting Theatre
168 Main Street, Worcester, NY 12197
Friday, April 5 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 5 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 pm
Auditions will be held at the ISD
(Institute for Spiritual Development)
41-45 Dietz St., Suite #1, Oneonta, NY 13820
Thursday, January 31 at 6PM
Saturday, February 2 at 4PM
Call-backs will be held Sunday Feb. 3
Rehearsals will be held in Oneonta until 2 weeks prior to the performance date.
Production Description
If you are growing tired of real-world stresses, then cast away your troubles and savor a Canadian comedy that traffics unabashedly in human goodness.
“The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby” is a beautifully written story about one small town, five big hearted people and a big fish. Written by award-winning Canadian playwright Norm Foster, this quirky, funny, and heartwarming comedy comes complete with romance, broken hearts, and the hunt for the elusive catfish named Hollis McCauley.
Uptight investment banker James Bell is on his way to present a very important speech, when his car breaks down in the wilderness town of Kooshog Lake. Finding himself stranded with little to do, he is lured into participating in the annual fishing derby, which offers a prize of $92,000 to the angler who can catch Hollis McCauley, the legendary catfish named for its resemblance to the local high school shop teacher! Soon James realizes that he is the fish out of water, and we follow this city boy as he is bewildered and beguiled by the people he meets. James gets a crash course in fishing, but the real lessons he learns are about life. There’s laughter all through this charming and funny fish story, a story that’s filled with real people and real heart.
CAST (3 Female, 2 Male)
SIENNA GREY: Female, 50-60+
dry-humored, divorced, and missing her only son, who moved away months before and still hasn’t called; she owns the only store in town; she and her store are the hub for the town’s news and gossip; she enjoys playing with out-of-towners, and James Bell is no exception.
JAMES BELL: Male, 30-35
focused, driven, slightly awkward investment banker, who gets stranded in Kooshog, on his way to a conference; by play’s end he’s learned how to fish, but he’s also learned how to live.
RHONDA BORKOWSKI: Female, 40-55
dry-humored, somewhat over-sexed local; she’s flirty, fun, and looking for love; she owns the only hotel in Kooshog which means that single banker James has to be on his guard while he’s stuck in town.
KIRK DOUGLAS: Male, 50-60+
the owner of the town’s garage and bait & tackle shop; he’s wise, witty, and sometimes a little confused. He has an interesting catalog of stories, analogies, and sayings; and he’s the founder of the Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby, based on the mighty fish story he tells.
MELANIE MORNINGSIDE: Female, 25-35
dry-humored, sunny, a little bit vulnerable, independent local, who owns the town’s antique shop. She’s fiercely protective of Kooshog’s friendly, slow-paced way of life. She was once in love with Sienna’s now-estranged son, and is nursing that heartache.
