Swimming in the Shallows

Swimming in the Shallows by Adam Bock

(6)
Productions (64)
Comedy
|
80 - 85 minutes
3 W, 3 M, 
Content Notes: Adult content and some mild adult language
Set: Bare stage, or a bench.

Barb finds out that Buddhist monks in Thailand only own eight things -- and wonders if that is all she wants. She starts giving away her things but her husband Bob keeps buying her new ones. Donna wants Carla Carla to marry her, but Carla Carla doesn't like that Donna smokes. Nick meets a shark at the aquarium -- they go on a date to the beach and Nick tries not to sleep with the shark too fast. Plus dream sequences. Plus a wedding.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

Barb finds out that Buddhist monks in Thailand only own eight things -- and wonders if that is all she wants. She starts giving away her things but her husband Bob keeps buying her new ones. Donna wants Carla Carla to marry her, but Carla Carla doesn't like that Donna smokes. Nick meets a shark at the aquarium -- they go on a date to the beach and Nick tries not to sleep with the shark too fast. Plus dream sequences. Plus a wedding.

  • Comedy
  • |
  • 80 - 85 minutes
  • 3 W, 3 M, 
  • Content Notes: Adult content and some mild adult language
  • Set: Bare stage, or a bench.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-067-9

Published Reviews

"Bock tells his fairy tale in a surreal idiom that shows wit and imagination. Working with a loose-limbed structure of episodic scenes, [he] focuses on cute characters caught up in winsome gay love stories deriving considerable charm from their oddball humor."

Marilyn Stasio, Variety

"Filled with highly-idiosyncratic characters and uproarious situations, Bock traverses a contemporary world of gay weddings, heterosexual marriages, and American capitalism."

J. Cooper Robb, TheaterMania

"A delightful work by a writer with a unique voice ... Place Bock's name in your memory bank. He's a real Up-And-Comer."

D. L. Lepidus, The Westsider

"A sweetly absurdist view of life ... By staying resolutely in shallow, frolicsome waters, the play manages to achieve something unexpectedly, if quietly, profound."

David Ng, Village Voice

"A screwy little jewel of a play ... It's as unconventional a conventional look at love as you'll find."

Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times

"Swimming in the Shallows is quirky with a capital Q."

Gordon Cox, Newsday

Production History

FEB 24, 2023 - MAR 05, 2023
Cloverdale Performing Arts Center
Cloverdale, CA United States
Cloverdale Performing Arts CenterCloverdale, CA United States
MAY 03, 2022 - MAY 03, 2022
Theatre Rhinoceros
San Francisco, CA United States
Theatre RhinocerosSan Francisco, CA United States
APR 22, 2022 - APR 23, 2022
School of Theatre at OCU
Oklahoma City, OK United States
School of Theatre at OCUOklahoma City, OK United States
DEC 09, 2021 - DEC 10, 2021
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY United States
Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY United States
NOV 07, 2019 - NOV 24, 2019
Whim Productions
Kansas City, MO United States
Whim ProductionsKansas City, MO United States
OCT 18, 2019 - NOV 03, 2019
Gallery Theater
McMinnville, OR United States
Gallery TheaterMcMinnville, OR United States
JUN 19, 2019 - JUN 20, 2019
Gadabout Theater Company
Nashville, TN United States
Gadabout Theater CompanyNashville, TN United States
APR 11, 2019 - APR 14, 2019
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC United States
Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, NC United States
SEP 08, 2017 - SEP 23, 2017
Alliance Repertory Theatre Co.
Rahway, NJ United States
Alliance Repertory Theatre Co.Rahway, NJ United States
FEB 04, 2016 - FEB 14, 2016
San Francisco State University, School Of Theatre & Dance
San Francisco, CA United States
San Francisco State University, School Of Theatre & DanceSan Francisco, CA United States
1 of 7
No upcoming productions.
SEP 24, 2015 - SEP 27, 2015
Broken Spectacle Productions
Bowling Green, OH United States
Broken Spectacle ProductionsBowling Green, OH United States
APR 29, 2015 - MAY 17, 2015
Kitchen Theatre Company
Ithaca, NY United States
Kitchen Theatre CompanyIthaca, NY United States
MAY 02, 2014 - MAY 24, 2014
Convergence-Continuum
Cleveland, OH United States
Convergence-ContinuumCleveland, OH United States
MAR 06, 2012 - MAR 06, 2012
Martin Tanner Productions
Kansas City, MO United States
Martin Tanner ProductionsKansas City, MO United States
AUG 12, 2010 - AUG 22, 2010
Ottawa Arts Court Foundation
Ottawa, ON Canada
Ottawa Arts Court FoundationOttawa, ON Canada
OCT 15, 2009 - OCT 25, 2009
New Ground Theatre
Davenport, IA United States
New Ground TheatreDavenport, IA United States
FEB 06, 2008 - MAR 08, 2008
Catalyst Theater Company
Washington, DC United States
Catalyst Theater CompanyWashington, DC United States
MAY 15, 2007 - JUN 03, 2007
Invisible Theatre
Tucson, AZ United States
Invisible TheatreTucson, AZ United States
SEP 20, 2005 - OCT 16, 2005
Salt Lake Acting Company
Salt Lake City, UT United States
Salt Lake Acting CompanySalt Lake City, UT United States
JAN 06, 2005 - JAN 23, 2005
Theatrefront
Toronto, ON Canada
TheatrefrontToronto, ON Canada
1 of 2

Awards (5)

Two LA Weekly Nominations

Weissberger Award nominee

Three Bay Area Theater Critic Circle awards, including Best Production, Best Play, Best Ensemble

Clauder Competition winner

GLAAD Award nominee