Playwright John Kolvenbach combines college, love, and addiction to build an endearing story that shows the conflicting nature of human connections.
Albert (Neo Barnes) is about to start college, but he needs to ensure his dad Leo (Will Kane) doesn’t spend the tuition money on gambling. They’re African Americans from a poor neighborhood. Once in college, Leo meets Lucy (Jillian Lee Garner), a White privileged girl whose mother Margaret (Lynne Mannino) is an alcoholic. Albert and Lucy fall in love with each other.
Eventually, Albert’s tuition is delayed due to Leo spending it on the tracks. To make things worse, Margaret doesn’t approve of the relationship between Albert and Lucy. Margaret doubts Albert can support Lucy, just like her husband couldn’t support the family.
Despite Albert’s tuition problems and the opposition of her mom, Lucy stands by his side, expecting him to rise to the occasion. But Albert worries about his dad losing the battle against his gambling addiction. Feeling defeated, Albert returns home and thinks about giving up, leaving college and Lucy behind.
A distinctive feature of the Noisy Nest is the rectangular stage with the audience seating on both sides inside the stage. This layout allows the audience to experience the play in an intimate setting, really close to the actors, so close that we could even smell Garner’s perfume as she walked by.
As for the story and dialogue, they appear simple, but they have a relatable essence, connecting with the audience at a raw and personal level. Goldfish delves into the core of society, the sacred space where our first impression of the world takes shape. Families can build or destroy. Sometimes kids can be a disappointment, but what happens when it’s the other way around? Kolvenbach shows both the fragility and strengths of the family members when they try to mend what’s been destroyed. What does it take to start over again? Are second chances possible, even for disadvantaged individuals? Is love enough of an engine to keep us going?
Director Amanda Bird extracts the power of human connection from the dialogue to create moving scenes that reinforce the importance of family in our development and how far some humans will go to take care of their own. The blocking makes great use of the intimate and unique space.
This production is still in the previews stage. The actual performances start on Sep the 12th. For what we saw in one of the previews, the writing, direction, and acting are creating an intimate and engaging play that adds a special touch to the theatre offerings this season.
Goldfish
Noisy Nest
148 S. Doheny Drive
Beverly Hills CA 90211
Previews: September 5th – 7th, 2025
Friday, Saturday performances 8pm
Sunday Matinee 2pm
Performances: September 12th – 28th, 2025
Friday, Saturday performances 8pm
Sunday Matinee 2pm
Tickets: thenestla.org/goldfish
Written by John Kolvenbach
Directed by Amanda Bird
Produced by The Nest
Cast: Neo Barnes, Jillian Lee Garner, Will Kane, Lynne Mannino, Enrike Llamas, Avery Bebon, Joshua Loren, and Paige Clark.
Creative team: Stage Manager – Katrina Zbegner. Set Design – Amanda Bird. Light Design – Isa Perez-Flores. Sound Design – Amanda Bird. Wardrobe + Prop Master – Amanda Bird. Production Manager – Lynne Mannino. Special Effects Design – Amanda Bird.
