Little Fish Swims to Finborough, 27 Oct

The musical, which is to be directed by Adam Lenson, tells the story of short-story writer Charlotte, a woman dealing with an existential crisis after her move to New York. LaChiusa’s pulsating, jazzy score brings a darker side of New York to the stage as Charlotte struggles to address issues from her past and present, including an abusive ex-boyfriend, a boss who won’t take no for an answer and the foolish decision to quit smoking just when times are getting tough. 

Little Fish is based on two short stories by the celebrated New York writer Deborah Eisenberg, whose work appears regularly to high acclaim in The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books. The musical premiered at the off-Broadway Second Stage Theatre in New York in 2003, where it received favourable reviews.

Director Adam Lenson returns to the Finborough after the sell-out success of Ordinary Days at the venue last year, another musical that focused on the complex lives of ordinary New Yorkers. Speaking to Whatsonstage.com last year Lenson, who has assisted on shows as diverse as An Inspector Calls and The Music Man, spoke of his commitment to new musicals: “We need to create more situations where new musicals can be put on but also convince audiences they are worth fighting for.”

– by Jo Caird