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Ashe County Little Theatre Presents Catfish Moon

Story by Celeste von Mangan

Colonial Americans called March the Fish Moon. And on the Eastern Seaboard, old cat (as in catfish) fishermen believed the best time to fish was three days prior to a full moon or three days following one. They also believed the day of the new moon, also known as the dark of the moon, was an auspicious time to fish for catfish.

Whether the catfish are biting or not, or the moon is waxing, waning or dark as pitch, the Ashe County Little Theatre production of the Laddy Sartin play Catfish Moon will premier on Thursday, March 29, with a curtain call of 7:30 p.m. The company will present additional performances on Friday, March 30, and on Saturday, March 31, also at 7:30 p.m., and a 2:00 matinee performance on Sunday, April 1. All performances will be held at the Ashe Civic Center.

Set in the old South at an ancient fishing pier at the end of Cypress Lake, three childhood friends, now in middle age, gather to fish. As children and teenagers, the pier, with its backdrop of moonlit water and catfish, served as a venue for their coming-of-age sagas— skipping school, skinny-dipping and discovering the mysteries of kissing girls.

The opening scene depicts Gordan (Scott Kastl), the “teddy bear” of the trio, contemplating a marriage proposal to his girlfriend after consulting the Horoscope Hotline and getting an auspicious reading. The trouble is, Gordan’s intended is his best friend Frog’s (Dayne Hodges) ex-wife, and Frog is less than thrilled with his pal’s romantic interests in Betty (Judi Mullen). Frog still loves Betty, although he does not know how to let Betty know he is sorry for his past indiscretions. Gordan carries some baggage of his own as a recovering alcoholic, and the third friend, Curley (Ken Mullen), has health concerns, not to mention the responsibility of bringing the old friends together.

Presented at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. as a finalist in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in April 1995, Catfish Moon was later presented at the Charlotte Repertory Theatre in February 1996. The show, directed by Jeff Dreyer, has little to do with fishing but moves from nostalgic humor to poignancy in the flash of a catfish’s tail. Ultimately, Catfish Moon is more than a story about how to land a catfish, a beer or a girl; it is about what is really important in life.

Tickets are by reserved seating and cost $10 for adults and $5 for students. Purchase tickets at the Ashe Arts Center in person or by phone. Call 336-846-ARTS or stop by the center at 303 School Avenue, West Jefferson.

Want To Go?

Dates: Thursday, March 29, to Sunday, April 1
Times: 7:30 Thursday to Saturday/2:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Ashe Civic Center
Cost: $10 adults/$5 students