The Fisherman and His Wife

by Larry and Vivian Snipes

Participation play for kindergarten through 5th grade, 3 or 4 characters, 45 minutes. $ 6.50

Remember the tale of the fisherman who catches an enchanted fish and uses his three wishes (and hers) to try to bring happiness to his wife? This delightful new dramatic adaptation of The Fisherman and his Wife taps into the magic of audience participation: a magic particularly important, the authors believe, when budgetary or logistical constraints prevent you from providing the magic of stage trappings and effects. Here you use children in the audience for scenery, sound effects, extensions of the action, even walk-on parts.

The familiar tale of wishes and transformations is well-suited to the style. As the Fish grants the Fisherman's Wife's spiraling wishes, the audience creates sea and storms, goes fishing, becomes chickens and ducks in the farmyard, and servants in the magnificent castle the Fish provides for the Fisherman's wife.

The Study Guide included with the script focuses on the multiple intelligences. There are pre- and post-performance activities that focus on the esthetic, kinesthetic, spatial, musical and interpersonal intelligences as well as suggestions for logical and linguistic projects that make The Fisherman and His Wife especially welcome for school visits.

Rediscover the joy of audience participation with a play as practical as it is delightful: three or four performers can load The Fisherman and His Wife into a station wagon and tour it to large and small spaces -- gymnasiums, libraries, all-purpose rooms, community centers and playgrounds.

The students really enjoyed the play! I know I got a big kick out of the fish and the fisherman saying "Here fish, fish!" The participation by the students was wonderful. I liked the involvement with the actors with the students. I can't wait to see another play.
Kindergarten teacher

The Fisherman and his Wife kept the attention of our children for an extended period of time . . . what a task! The children love to be a part of the action, and you cue them and include them in age-appropriate ways. Thanks for another great arts experience for our students.
Upper Primary teacher.

The audience participation helped all my students experience the play with all their senses.
Special Ed teacher.

My students were spellbound, the entire school was!
Second/Third grade teacher.