The moon is high over Coley’s Point, Newfoundland and down below on the porch of a wealthy family’s home, Mary Snow is, as usual, staring up at the heavens. What she doesn’t expect is who is coming down the walkway to surprise her that evening, a surprise that’ll change the course of their lives forever. David French’s Dora Award winning play Salt-Water Moon marks the inaugural production for King Theatre Company. Under the direction of Chloë Rose Flowers, this touching play gets a beautiful new life under the stars at Pine Farms Orchard. 

The atmosphere of Pine Farms Orchard is perfectly suited to the production. The rustic feel of not only the orchard itself but the farmhouse/storefront they use as a playing space immediately calls to mind the porches and painted houses of the East Coast. Because the play takes place is the same outdoor location (the porch of the house where Mary is the housekeeper), having the show be en plein air is perfect. Lisa Van Oorschot’s lighting design added the perfect extra ambiance to the stage both when the sun was still bright as well as during the golden hours of the end of the performance.

Salt-Water Moon takes place on a night not unlike the ones we’re experiencing now, out on the porch of the house where Mary is in servitude. Jacob unexpectedly left for Toronto over a year ago, yet now has come home to Newfoundland. It might have something to do with the fact that Mary has recently become engaged to a young man Jacob doesn’t care for, but Jacob never fully admits to it. Though they bicker and you can feel how hurt Mary has been over the past year without Jacob, the chemistry between the two is consistently electric. 

Throughout their conversations, we learn about how the First World War shook not only the lives of these two characters, but the whole community around them. In this way, Salt-Water Moon is not only a sweet love story, but also acts as a sort of time capsule for what life was like post WWI. Everything from the stories Jacob’s father has told him, to the nightmares he still experiences, to the fact that Mary’s mother was forced to give both her and her sister up once Mary’s father passed away depicts a tumultuous time which we see reflected in the next generation. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the song “Recruiting Sergeant” by Great Big Sea, a personal favourite of mine. The play references the Blue Puttees – the Newfoundland troupe to which both Mary and Jacob’s fathers belonged to, along with other battles and locations mentioned in the song. The immortalization of these men through story and song is a testament to their sacrifice and how deeply it was felt by those who remained.  

Portraying these charismatic characters are Mona Hillis and Josh Palmer. I first have to commend both of them on their Newfoundland accents, which they flawlessly execute throughout the performance; it truly made me want to book a flight to the East Coast pronto. Hillis brings a real feisty side to Mary that I really enjoyed; you can tell that she’s driven and determined in a way that only someone who’s lost everything will be. Palmer brings a mischievous charm to Jacob which makes it clear how he can win over Mary’s heart after everything they’ve been through. They play so well off of one another and create the perfect amount of tension to keep the audience rapt throughout the performance. 

I am eagerly awaiting the next production from King Theatre Company. If Salt-Water Moon is any indication, I have a feeling there will be many more captivating productions in store. It’s certainly worth the drive up to King City, and I can’t wait to go back to Pine Farms Orchard for my apple picking adventure this fall! Salt-Water Moon runs until August 24th. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.kingtheatre.ca/whats-on

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Cover photo: Mona Hillis and Josh Palmer. Photo by Khaleel Gandhi.

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