A Conversation with Heather Fink, Playwright/Actor, “Quicksand”, Hollywood Fringe Festival, Hudson Theaters (Hudson Guild), by James Scarborough

Heather Fink’s solo performance “Quicksand” is about personal tragedy and resilience. The play is a raw, unflinching examination of the most challenging aspects of human existence - caregiving, grief, and the search for meaning amidst chaos. Fink, an accomplished comedian and filmmaker, brings her many talents to the stage in a narrative that moves back and forth between dark humor and touching reflection.

“Quicksand” stems from a personal event: Fink’s father suffered a paralyzing stroke. This event serves as a catalyst for her descent into metaphorical quicksand as she grapples with the responsibilities of caregiving and the confrontation with mortality. The performance’s structure combines storytelling and clowning. It allows Fink to examine these themes with a blend of levity and gravity. Her background in comedy counterbalances the overarching somberness.

Directed by Jake Plunkett, “Quicksand” is both a catharsis and a universal commentary on the human condition. The inclusion of the Quicksand Fairy, played by Joy Nash, adds an ethereal layer to the performance. It symbolizes the unpredictable and often surreal nature of life’s most trying moments. The production design by Chloe Reisen enhances the production’s emotional depth, using visual elements to reflect the protagonist’s internal turmoil.

Transforming her personal struggles into a relatable and engaging performance, “Quicksand” affirms the resilience of the human spirit. It reminds us how, even in the darkest of times, there is room for laughter and hope.

JS: “Quicksand” intertwines personal tragedy with elements of clowning and comedy. How did you balance these seemingly contrasting tones in your performance?

HF: The show’s format is a storytelling sandwich with a theatrical and clown element in between, where I “sink” in the Quicksand of life, and a few magical things happen! I’ll use some elements of clowning to demonstrate caregiving, while a Quicksand Fairy will appear to try and coax me out of sinking. The storytelling also contains some multimedia elements.

JS: Your father’s stroke is a pivotal event in “Quicksand.” How did this real-life experience shape the narrative and emotional arc of the show?

HF: This is the most real and personal creative project I’ve ever embarked on. In the past I’ve drawn on personal experiences in my films and standup, but it was rarely the actual stories of my life. This is all about what’s actually transpired, and it’s my deep hope to connect to people who’ve endured their own version of family hardship and creative or career crisis, because I know we all go through that. This show is about how we rise instead of sink into our challenges.

JS: The use of the Quicksand Fairy adds a surreal dimension to the performance. What inspired the creation of this character. How does she contribute to the overall message of the piece?

HF: I care a lot about the audience in everything I create, so I wanted to create a fun way for them to engage in these serious themes. The Quicksand in my show is inspired by the fantasy movies I grew up with like The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, or Willow. A Quicksand Fairy has a natural place in this world and our interaction is the most fun part of this show to play!

JS: As a filmmaker and comedian, you bring a diverse skill set to the stage. How have your experiences in these fields influenced your approach to writing and performing “Quicksand”?

HF: My experience as a comedian makes me especially in touch with the audience and mindful of their feelings. This consideration carries with me throughout the show as I try to deliver something that both resonates and entertains. The visual and surrealist elements of the show inform the Quicksand portion of the performance. I decided rather than just tell people what it was like, I use visuals and sound to share what happened on a emotional level. I love that films can do that, so I’m using the stage the same way.

JS: The themes of caregiving and midlife crises are central to the play. How do you want audiences to connect with these themes, especially those who have faced similar challenges?

HF: Much of this show is about illuminating stories that are all too invisible. I explicitly say I want to bring visibility to caregivers, who I see as the world’s real life superheroes. As for the midlife crisis, I think it’s a term that hasn’t met modernity in many ways. It’s not about just about sports cars or affairs. It’s about taking stock of our lives, goals, and identity as we transform in time. I might connect with people who’ve gone through exactly some of the things I have in terms of a Hollywood career, or in dealing with elder care. But everyone has gone through their own Quicksand in some way. I know my show speaks to that. I hope they walk away feeling seen and that they feel the love this show puts forward.

JS: Discuss the collaborative process with your director, Jake Plunkett. How did his vision helped shape the shows’s production?

HF: My choice of working with Jake comes with the challenge that he’s in NYC, though he’ll be joining us in person for our final rehearsals before we perform the show. He was the best and most natural person to work with because we’ve already been developing Quicksand for television before I decided to do this as a live show. We already see eye to eye creatively and as people. It really means a lot to me how much he believes in me and the project. Whenever we check in on the phone or virtually he absolutely provides the exact perspective and creative guidance that I need. I look forward to our in person rehearsals and to going further with this show past the Hollywood Fringe, We plan to take it to NYC/NJ next, where I’m from, and maybe next year, Edinburgh Fringe!

JS: Production design plays a significant role in the storytelling of “Quicksand.” How did you work with Chloe Reisen to develop the visual aspects of the show?

HF: I’m so happy Chloe Reisen joined "Quicksand"! We’ve been friends and collaborators since 2010 when she was the Production Designer on my short film “Heart Break” and we collaborated again on my 2022 short film “Quiche.” Chloe always goes above and beyond, using her myriad of artistic skills to build a creative world that’s totally elevated from what I have on paper. It’s truly awesome what she’s able to make happen. Anyone with the opportunity to work with her will be so lucky to collaborate with such a generous and skilled person. She’s done great work bringing the mystical Quicksand world to life visually, as well as a life sized underworld puppet version of my dad.

JS: “Quicksand” features a blend of humor and pathos. What role do you believe humor plays in coping with and understanding life’s most difficult moments?

HF: Humor is something physical that transforms your body and mind. It’s the only way my family has survived tragedy, and it’s a universal language that all human beings speak, even if they don’t have words. Even when my dad could no longer speak, he made jokes in his own way, like hiding behind a coffee mug which is clearly too small to hide behind. There’s nothing more quintessentially human and crucial to survival than humor.

JS: Your career has spanned various mediums, including stand-up comedy, filmmaking, and live theater. How does performing a solo show compare to your previous experiences?

HF: Wow this solo show has really been unlike anything I’ve ever created before. It’s common for me to be wracked with self doubt as I write a script or before getting on stage, but I know I just need to get on the stage anyway, or push forward with my script. That self doubt and terror has stopped me in my tracks in much more intense ways as I crafted this show. It’s about some of the most painful moments in my life. But I know deep down that it’s the most important material I have in me that’s worth sharing. I just can’t have all of these experiences be for nothing. I see a need in the world to tell these stories. I know it helps us all to cope and heal to connect in this way. That’s what’s most beautiful in art. And so in this great vulnerability I think I have the most beauty to share. I don’t think I’ve felt this way about anything else I’ve done.

JS: Do you have any plans to expand or adapt “Quicksand” for other formats, such as film or a broader theatrical run? If so, how do you envision this transition?

HF: Yes, I plan to continue the show in other cities, beyond Fringe and hopefully in THE Fringe in Edinburgh. But I do have a longer version of the show in mind, complete with a few musical numbers! And I have been developing the show for television already as a family “traumedy” - telling the story of a family through all of these elder care and caregiving challenges. There’s SO MUCH I didn’t have time to include in the show in one hour that I think must vitally be depicted in a longer story format. I especially wish I had time to expand on the stories of my schizophrenic grandmother and uncle but there’s no time! So much of the world is living through elder care, caregiving, and their own invisible challenges. The surrealist elements of Quicksand on stage were actually an idea I had for the tv series first. In the tv version there’s a surreal world where the characters can act out the emotional life behind the story. Most importantly I want anything I create for this show to help launch a caregiving and stroke foundation that provides the resources my family desperately needed but didn’t have. That needs to change.

On that note, please learn how to spot a stroke: FAST - Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, Time to Call 911!  The faster you get to the hospital to stop the stroke, the more you can minimize the permanent brain damage.

TAKEAWAYS

Heather Fink intertwines personal tragedy with elements of clowning and comedy in "Quicksand" by creating a storytelling format that integrates theatrical and multimedia elements. The Quicksand Fairy, inspired by fantasy movies from her childhood, introduces a surreal dimension, engaging the audience in serious themes through a fun and imaginative approach.

The pivotal event of her father's stroke deeply shapes the narrative and emotional arc of the show. Fink's use of real-life experiences in "Quicksand" aims to connect with audiences who have faced similar family hardships and career crises. The show emphasizes rising above challenges rather than sinking into them, offering a heartfelt exploration of caregiving and midlife crises.

Fink highlights the crucial role of humor in coping with life's most difficult moments. Humor serves as a universal language and a physical transformation that aids in survival and healing. This aspect of the show resonates deeply with audiences, providing a sense of connection and understanding through shared human experiences.

Performances are Saturday, June 8th - 7:15 pm, Saturday, June 15 - 6:15 pm, Sunday, June 23 - 7:15 pm, Thursday, June 27 - 7:15 pm, and Saturday, June 29 - 8:45 pm. Tickets are $15. The Theatre is located at 6539 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood 90038. For more information, click here.