The Mercury Players Present: Mrs. Reynolds & The Ruffian - A Live Play

Mrs Reynolds and the Ruffian runs April 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21 at 7:30 pm and April 15, 22, and 23 at 2:30 pm at the Duncan United Church Heritage Hall at 246 Ingram Street.

It’s a scenario you might easily see in the local paper, headed “Troubled Teen Destroys Senior’s Garden.” The garden in Mercury Players up-coming production Mrs Reynolds and the Ruffian, by Welsh Playwright Gary Owen, is the lonely senior’s sole raison d'être, where she cultivates roses in a gritty inner city.

Jay, the ruffian, is a disaffected, disadvantaged spoiler of gardens, tagger of brick walls and a criminal in the making. When Mrs Reynolds agrees to let him work out his community “payback” by restoring her flowerbeds, neither imagines the unlikely relationship that will develop.

Though it's a thorny start, Mrs Reynolds is no shrinking violet. She's not afraid to trump Jay at his own game. He may seem the proverbial bad seed, unwilling to grow flowers or grow up, but his streetwise brand of philosophy and the revelation of his ghastly childhood earn him a chance at redemption. By giving Jay constructive attention, Mrs Reynolds unearths a willing apprentice. Things look promising until Jay’s insular bond with delinquent pal Kieran blights his budding romance with single mom Mel. Both Mel and Mrs Reynolds reveal secrets that force Jay to decide what really matters in life.

While the play is a drama, the differences between the old and young provide fertile ground for humour. At a meeting with Mrs Reynolds, “Where’d you get her,” scoffs Jay to social worker Cassie, “Antiques Roadshow?” Playwright Gary Owen pokes gentle fun at official notions of justice, but pulls no punches in depicting the dark side of social welfare.

The cast includes Leslie Sanchez, Connor Lachmanec, Dayna Corbett, Presley Anderson, Ella Dupuy and Julia Lalonde.

Mary Louise Phillips is the director and the producer is Kathy Yewell for The Mercury Players Society.

Warning: Adult themes and strong language.

Tickets are $22 for general admission and $17 for students/seniors with April 13 Opening Night Special 2 tickets for only $30. Tickets are available online at eventbrite.ca, in person from Ten Old Books and at the door.