Water by the Spoonful -- Quiara Alegria Hudes (2012)

Description
The Pulitzer website states that Water by the Spoonful is "an imaginative play about the search for meaning by a returning Iraq war veteran working in a sandwich shop in his hometown of Philadelphia." Who am I to argue with the Pulitzer organization, but this is a terribly misleading description of the play. Do I have a better description? Probably not. 

The play is the second of an acclaimed trilogy by Quiara Alegria Hudes. The first of the trilogy, Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue, was a runner-up for the Pulitzer in 2007 (Rabbit Hole won that year). Hudes came up short again in 2009 for In the Heights (Ruined won that year). Finally, Hudes received the prize for her modern play. The play follows Elliot, who is accurately described in the Pulitzer statement. The description does not share how the play is also about his mother's online crack addict recovery chatroom. Personalities, memories, and beliefs converge on that platform. I do not want to spoil the plot, but I can say that everything upends when Elliot's aunt dies at the end of Act One. Many revelations occur in the second act, including the facts that Elliot grew up with his aunt because his mother, Odessa, was a crack addict whose neglect killed Elliot's sister. Each member of the chatroom tries to avoid crack and cling to relationships in his or her own way. What is amazing is that the story is actually pretty hopeful. The hope only appears after despair is viewed head on. 

I haven't even mentioned Elliot's cousin, Yaz, who helps support Elliot along the way. 

The play only showed off-Broadway. I believe it must have had a stellar ensemble. 

Candid Reactions

• These character names are perhaps the most unique names in the entire project. 
• The direction on how the actors should approach the "online" portions of the play is relieving and engaging. 
• I forgot that Yaz was getting a divorce at the beginning of this play -- I read it at beginning and end of day. 
• The phrase that Elliot is haunted by is effective on a symbolic level: "Can I please have my passport back?" (11) This phrase takes on new meanings throughout the play. 
• Orangutan's line, "Sober air toast. To lifeguards" made me realize how special the play was about to be (16). 
• Ha! "Sondheim clones" (19). 
• There seems to be a lot of pressure placed on Elliot unnecessarily. 
• The attack on Fountainhead's ego is strong!
• At first, I thought that Elliot's feelings of guilt were normal. Later, I realize that his feelings of guilt must have been crazy intense because of his growing up. 
• Yaz has such simple lines of dialogue that pack huge punches. For example, "Probably we should order some flowers first, though. Don'tcha think? (34)
• There was never a kid who "ate the crayons," Chutes&Ladders!
• Uh-oh. The rest of this play is going to get sticky. 
• Okay, now I understand who died. 
• The callback to the title is absolutely devastating. 
• I find it interesting how many layers are piled on each other in the last half of the play. 
• Just like Elliot is trying to find himself, Orangutan is, too. 
• Chutes&Ladders' relationship with his son is heartbreaking. 
• What is going on symbolically with Odessa's pouring of the water during the eulogy?
• Oh, is Chutes&Ladders really doing this?
• OH, NO! THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN ODESSA WAS POURING OUT THE WATER DURING THE EULOGY.
• Seems kinda much for John to be told to stay by Odessa's side by people who have trolled him nonstop. 
• Finally, John is communicating honestly with his wife -- interesting, though, that he does this through a text. 
• I don't know why, but I was moved by Yaz's line, "Sh. I'm counting syllables" (82). I want to figure that one out. 
• Oh shoot, more water guilt for Elliot. 
• Oh, no! Don't do it, Elliot!
• Some clear symbolism as John bathes Odessa. 
• I hope things work out for Yaz and Elliot.  

Top Two Aspects/Reasons for Winning
1. Human Connection
The play includes various types of relationships, but all of the relationships are broken. The online chatroom invites an analysis of social mask-wearing. Strangers connect and bristle against each other on a technological platform. At times, the communication is blunt and straightforward. The relationships get fractured and healed with impassioned communications.

The danger of the lack of human connection haunts and pesters each character. Hudes asserts the need for authentic, intimate human connection. 

2. Recovery
Half of the play occurs on an online recovery chatroom. A small group of recovering crack addicts have the opportunity to commune and share their histories and viewpoints with each other. The recovery process appears to be brutal and humbling.

Elliot, the protagonist, is recovering, too. As a returning Iraq War vet with a damaged leg, Elliot has to recover, or rediscover his identity. What challenges this is the deaths and poor decisions his mother figures experience. His ability to recover from those situations solidify his heroic stature.

Classroom Implications
I don't see how I could use this in high school due to the intense language. I think high school students would enjoy the read, though, due to the intensity of the play. The figurative language is fairly accessible, too.

Personal Takeaway
Language evolves and playwrights acknowledge that.

Ranking

	Dialogue	Characters	Plot/Conflict	Symbol/Literary Devices	Overall Enjoyment	TOTAL SCORE 9.0
0	Unfollowable; unrealistic; diction does not match character	Undeveloped; does not reflect humanity	Not engaging; predictable; reader can step away from text because it isn’t gripping	Devices are apparent for cleverness and do not enhance the story	Reader has no interest in re-reading play
1	Not consistently realistic	Well-developed; most depictions reflect humanity	Semi-engaging; some unnecessary plot-points	Devices somewhat enhance story	Reader would re-read with pleasure and reminded of work (1.5)
2	Realistic; connotative; diction matches characters (2)	Fully-developed; depictions reflect humanity (1.75)	Engaging; unique; reader finds it impossible to put down text because the conflict is so gripping! (1.75)	Devices seamlessly enhance the story and provide rich interpretation (2)	Reader would re-read the play on own volition, enthusiastically