Hostage or not a play about Betta Fish

by Cassie M. Seinuk

The last thing Toni needs right now is to be standing face to face with her 16 year old son, Lev, in a police interrogation room. But here she is. Lev, a gentle misfit and sales associate at PetSmart, has just been arrested for freeing the store's entire stock of animals, leading to utter chaos in suburbia. A snake was even found in the carseat of a Subaru. Toni thinks she knows why Lev did what he did, but if...

The last thing Toni needs right now is to be standing face to face with her 16 year old son, Lev, in a police interrogation room. But here she is. Lev, a gentle misfit and sales associate at PetSmart, has just been arrested for freeing the store's entire stock of animals, leading to utter chaos in suburbia. A snake was even found in the carseat of a Subaru. Toni thinks she knows why Lev did what he did, but if she’s going to help him, she needs him to tell her the truth.

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Hostage or not a play about Betta Fish

Recommended by

  • Jewish Plays Project: Hostage or not a play about Betta Fish by Cassie M. Seinuk
    “

    Jewish Plays Project would like to acknowledge that HOSTAGE OR NOT A PLAY ABOUT BETTA FISH received Commended status for our first Ten Minute Play Contest OOF: On One Foot, which searched nationally for plays from artists of all backgrounds responding to our prompt on healing & repair. Our Artist Panel readers appreciated the craft, style, and creativity, as well as how it theatrically expressed the first annual contest theme of healing & repair.

    Jewish Plays Project would like to acknowledge that HOSTAGE OR NOT A PLAY ABOUT BETTA FISH received Commended status for our first Ten Minute Play Contest OOF: On One Foot, which searched nationally for plays from artists of all backgrounds responding to our prompt on healing & repair. Our Artist Panel readers appreciated the craft, style, and creativity, as well as how it theatrically expressed the first annual contest theme of healing & repair.

    ”

Character Information

Lev and Toni are Jewish characters. Please note while casting this play that Jews come in all colors, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We are not a monolith.
  • LEV
    He would be punk if punk was still cool. He's a loner. He's a bit of an oddball but has always meant well. Perhaps he's neurodiverse or perhaps he's lost many friends. He has stopped trying to fit in. He's dressed for his job at PetSmart or the like.
    16
    Jewish
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
  • TONI
    Lev's mother. She's a hard worker, her job is important to her but she is always trying to make it to the end of the day. She finds ways to laugh when there is no reason to laugh, that's just the kind of lady she is. She loves her son. She hurts for him, but she's not gonna let him get off easy.
    50s-60s
    Jewish
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Production History

  • Professional, Boston Playwrights' Theatre and M&D Playhouse, 2024

Awards

  • Susan J. Westfall National Award for Short Playwriting Contest
    City Theatre
    Finalist
    2025