Synopses & Reviews
1949 continues the saga of the Mercer family, enlarged to include the extended family as well as off-stage characters from earlier plays. David French deals with the emotional and political decisions that the characters must come to as Newfoundland joins Confederation on April Fools Day of 1949. As recent immigrants to Toronto, the members of the Mercer family see this event both as a new future and as a loss of Newfoundlands culture and independence.
Cast of 6 women, 6 men and 2 boys.
Review
"Told with Frenchs warm humour and effortless command of stage convention."
Globe and Mail
Synopsis
Newfoundland joins Confederation in the continuing saga of the Mercer family. Cast of 6 women, 6 men and 2 boys.
About the Author
David FrenchBorn in Coleys Point, Newfoundland, David French was one of Canadas best-known and most critically acclaimed playwrights. His work received many major awards, and French was one of the first inductees into the Newfoundland Arts Hall of Honour.
Among his best-loved works are the semi-autobiographical Mercer plays: Salt-Water Moon, 1949, Leaving Home, recently named one of Canadas 100 Most Influential Books (Literary Review of Canada) and one of the 1,000 Most Essential Plays in the English Language (Oxford Dictionary of Theatre), Of the Fields, Lately and Soldiers Heart. The Mercer plays have received hundreds of productions across North America, including a Broadway production of Of the Fields, Lately. This quintet of plays about a Newfoundland family has also touched audiences in Europe, South America and Australia. In addition, French produced skillful adaptations of Alexander Ostrovskys The Forest, Anton Chekhovs The Seagull and August Strindbergs Miss Julie.