Mary Gapper, an intelligent and some would say even over-educated, self-proclaimed spinster, sails from England to Canada in 1828. What starts off as a short visit soon becomes a lifelong adventure, as she confronts her self-imposed (and societal) limitations, the possibility of love and what it means to build a home on the edge of the new world. As the tension mounts between who Mary thought she was and who she could be in this new Canada, what will become possible?
Based on the real-life diaries of Mary Sophia Gapper.
First produced by Theatre by the Bay, Barrie ON, 2018
Keywords: Ontario History; Women’s History; Canadian History; Canada; romance; adaptation; drama; Feminist; adventure; homesteading; immigration
Genre: Romance, Historical/Biographical
Acts: 2
Run time: 125 minutes
Suitable for students 12+
Content notes: Contains some light swearing, references to child loss/stillbirth, suggestion of domestic abuse, references to injury/death related to war.Â
-Act 1 is suitable for students grade 7 and above, and can function as a complete script/ play on its own.
-Acts 1 and 2 are suitable for students in high school and above.
-The playwright is open to a conversation about any changes that an educator may wish to propose to make the script suitable for their classroom
Cast size: 4 actors
Male roles: 2
Female roles: 2
Casting notes: This play was written to be performed by four actors, with two actors playing multiple roles. The actors playing Mary and Edward only play those roles. The actors playing Southby and Fanny play all remaining roles. The actors do not use British accents, but speak in their own voice.
In real life history these characters were White. Actors playing these roles may be of any race or cultural background, and theatres are encouraged to cast as they see fit.