A play about history, cetaceans and the search for self at sea.

In 1849, Moses Spouter sets off a sensation when he claims to have encountered a giant sea monster with the head of an elephant attached to the body of a sperm whale. The Whalephant becomes instant folklore for the watery parts of southeastern Massachusetts. Today, Abe Spouter hopes to use the Whalephant legend in one last attempt to rescue his flagging business. To do so, Abe must enlist the help of his estranged daughter as well as his loyal-but-incompetent crew. The Whalephant by Kartik Naram intertwines the story of Abe’s desperate scheme with the dark truth of Moses’s tall tale. It’s a play about history and family, cetaceans and shanties, and the search for self while out at sea.