Fika and Fishy

by Krish Natarajan and Sharmaine Goh
Patch & Punnet
11 Chander Road, Singapore

Fika and Fishy is an original work by Patch & Punnet, a self-billed "millennial" theatre collective started by a group of friends about three years ago. The play explores the relationship between dour goldfish, Fishy (Sharmaine Goh) who has been stuck in a house for several years, and rambunctious, excitable puppy Fika (Ong Yi Xuan), newly arrived from a shelter. The pair get off to a sour start but end up becoming friends, helping each other confront their individual fears and dreams. 

A casual glance at the poster makes this seem like a children's show but Fika and Fishy is very much intended for adults and boasts a healthy dose of swearing and bawdy humour. However, while the play alludes to a variety of deeper themes, including the presence of a master with questionable habits, it keeps these issues on the surface rather than exploring them further, leaving one unsure as to what it is really trying to say. 

Elements of puppetry and live music add a nice texture to the narrative. The production is also set in an interesting attic-like space in Little India, featuring an assortment of chairs, cushions and a small bar, which give off the feeling of relaxing with a group of friends and having a good time. 

I discuss this production in this month's Arts Equator theatre podcast, together with playwright, poet and editor Nabilah Said and theatre educator Matthew Lyon. 

The Crystalwords score: 2/5