I love live theatre. I love the anticipation of a night out, watching excited actors come alive in their roles, the admiration I feel for the work and creativity put into the sets and costumes, and, most of all, the telling of stories. Needless to say, I was heartbroken when COVID-19 put an end to live theatre, which, of course, meant my reviewing of live theatre as well.
After 15 tedious months, I finally received the long-awaited email from my editor: did I want to review the (in-person) production of Canadian playwright David French’s Salt-Water Moon when it opened at Blue Bridge Theatre? I couldn’t email back fast enough.
Salt-Water Moon (directed by Fran Gebhard; read our interview with Gebhard here) is set in 1926 in Coley’s Point, Newfoundland. We are introduced first to Mary Snow (Shea O’Connor), a lovely young woman with a faraway look and a telescope under her arm; she is setting up to view constellations. She is joined shortly by the only other character in the production, a headstrong if not cocky young fellow, Jacob Mercer (Dawson Rutledge), and the audience quickly learns through Mary’s surprise and anger that Jacob has been gone for a year and left Mary with a broken heart. However, Mary was strong enough not to wallow and has moved on, much to Jacob’s dismay and irritation. Of course, he is determined to win her back.
The set (designed by Graham McMonagle) is simple yet effective in displaying just the right amount of romance with a large golden moon and twinkling lights. The costumes (by Emily Friesen) are 1920s downtown, shabby chic, with fluttering dresses, corduroy jackets, fedoras.
Salt-Water Moon has only two actors, yet their story together is a full one, and the actors’ excitement about being back on stage is evident, as is their enthusiasm for their roles. Because of their contagious joy, I ate the production up with pure giddiness, as did the rest of the audience. That joy doubly increased by the heart of the production—the fiddler (Pierre Schryer) who narrates the scenes of tearful arguments, humour, and sweet nostalgia with melancholy sea shanties showing the true spirit of Newfoundland.
I drove home with sea shanties in my head, while feeling a little bit moonstruck, too. Salt-Water Moon was a perfect way to re-introduce live theatre into our lives.
Salt-Water Moon
Until Sunday, July 18
$25-$42, Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre (in-person and live-streaming tickets available)
bluebridgetheatre.ca