The Mercury Players Present: Tempting Providence - A Live Play

Tempting Providence runs Feb 2-12, 2023

Thursday and Friday Evening Performances Feb 2 & 3 and 10 & 12 at 7:30pm

Saturday and Sunday matinees Feb 4 & 5 and 11 & 12 at 2:30pm.

Doors open 30 minutes before performance. Online ticket sales close 2 hours befor doors open.

ALL PERFORMANCES WILL BE AT THE DUNCAN UNITED CHURCH HALL at 246 Ingram Street.

Tickets are 22.00 (17.00 for seniors/students), available here and at Ten Old Books in the Duncan Garage.

Live Newfoundland music by Jeremy Walsh on the same stage starts at 7:00 pm, so come a little earlier if you can.

Duncan's Mercury Players are presenting Robert Chafe's internationally acclaimed play Tempting Providence . It's the true story of an extraordinary woman, nurse Myra Bennett, "the Florence Nightingale of Newfoundland." She arrived from England, in 1921, to bring her desperately needed medical and midwifery skills to 320 kilometers of isolated coastal communities.  

This magically inventive comedy-drama will transport you back to a time when people struggled, even harder than today, to survive. The nearest hospital was days away and forceful weather, disease, work accidents, malnutrition, and childbirth could claim your life quickly. You will meet the hard working people of Daniel's Harbour, an outport with a vast roadless community, whom Nurse Bennett must serve. She travels by foot, boat or dogsled, depending on the season. Some of her patients are stubbornly superstitious, while others are willing to learn from "the Nurse." From those in robust good health to those in dreadful pain, all possess the grit, courage and humanity to sustain themselves and their neighbours through extremely hard times.  Tempting Providence  explores Bennett's steely British resolve but also humour and compassion for all those Newfoundlanders she comes to know and care for.  At the core of the play is the love story between her and her pragmatic husband, Angus.  

Tempting Providence is a powerful, exhilarating play that offers suspense and adventure, as well as touching and endearing moments. It's a chance to know one of our bravest, most socially committed Canadians and to renew your faith in communities helping each other.  The production will also integrate spectacular Newfoundland imagery, the silent, ever present character in this story.

Genevieve Charbonneau plays Myra, Mateo Tomlinson plays Angus, Sylvia Swift plays Woman (several female characters) and Rob Foell plays Man (several male characters)

Producer: Lisa Read

Stage Manager: Leslie Sanchez,

Contact: mail@mercuryplayers.org