Wishful Drinking
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Carrie Fisher |
| Products | Autobiographical book |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
Wishful Drinking is a humorous autobiographical work authored by American actress and writer Carrie Fisher, released in 2008 by Simon & Schuster. The content draws inspiration from her solo stage performance, which she developed alongside writer and director Joshua Ravetch.
The theatrical production debuted at The Geffen Playhouse, featuring Fisher as the performer with Ravetch serving as co-creator and director. After a successful engagement on Broadway, the show toured various cities. In 2010, HBO produced a feature-length documentary capturing the essence of the stage presentation.
Book reception
Wishful Drinking was met with predominantly favorable critiques. A review in the January 2009 issue of the New York Times described it as a "funny, sardonic little memoir," though it remarked on its brevity, characterized by succinct paragraphs and a rapid-fire delivery of humor. Salon critic Rebecca Traister commended its wit but suggested that Fisher leaned heavily on her celebrity image rather than offering profound personal revelations.
Carrie Fisher, who died on December 27, 2016, included within the book a widely quoted memorable statement that gained prominence following her passing:
Stage adaptation
The narrative originated from Fisher’s solo theatrical piece, co-developed and directed by Josh Ravetch at The Geffen Playhouse. After its initial run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in early 2008, it opened on Broadway at Studio 54 with previews starting September 22, 2009, officially opening October 4, 2009, and closing on January 17, 2010. Before reaching Broadway, Wishful Drinking enjoyed successful performances at venues such as Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Production rights dispute
Following the Broadway run, Fisher became embroiled in a legal conflict with producer Jonathan Reinis concerning production rights, with both sides accusing each other of causing financial losses.
Film documentary
In December 2010, HBO premiered a filmed documentary adaptation of the stage show directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. This 76-minute feature was later released on DVD on September 13, 2011. Critical responses were varied: the Los Angeles Times lauded Fisher’s captivating performance as "larger than life," while the Boston Globe pointed out some repetitiveness but acknowledged her self-awareness. DVDTalk gave high marks for content quality and recommended the DVD despite moderate technical evaluations.