A review by emilyosterloh
Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hudes

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is such an important play. Disappointed I didn’t come across it sooner. Its primary focus is on struggles with addiction, PTSD, and death, so it’s certainly not a light read. It portrays the darkness of addiction and the struggles that come along with it incredibly well and illuminates how difficult it is to contend with this disease. The author does not pull any punches, which feels necessary. Elliot and Yaz are characters you sympathize with, but so are Odessa and everyone she speaks to in the chatroom. I liked how the play focused on familial relationships and friendships and how their strength can be a source of comfort in these trying times. I also loved how the play touched deeply on internet relationships and their validity.  Water By the Spoonful does not end in the happiest manner, but there is a glimmer of hope. I am fortunate enough to be working on a production of this play in the coming months, and I cannot wait to see it unfold on stage. It already feels immersive being read, but watching it in real life will be even better. I only wish I could have seen more of all the characters and their recovery process, but maybe it is meant to be this way so it’s left to the reader’s or the audience’s imagination what happens next. I am aware there this is part of a trilogy, though I don’t think Odessa is a primary focus in either of the other plays. Regardless, I think I’ll need to give the others a read.
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