The Colony of Unrequited Dreams To March 12 Tue-Fri 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm and 7:30pm Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street $33-$65
From its opening scene of a familiar seaside winterscape, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams is a distinctly and proudly Atlantic Canadian play. Adapted by Robert Chafe from the beloved novel by Wayne Johnston, the production maintains the sweeping saga of the source text, following the mostly true story of Joseph Smallwood, the unassuming politician who saw Newfoundland into Confederation. The action moves swiftly from year to year and place to place, following Smallwood and a slew of characters, both fictional and historical, as they navigate the terrain of Newfoundland politics. The direction is impeccable, and works in perfect harmony with the versatile set design, as the performers move set pieces to indicate a fisherman's house, a black-tie banquet or a harsh Newfoundland winter.
Despite its three-hour runtime and tendency to sag ever-so-slightly in the middle, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams is a near-flawless production that boasts exquisite design, compelling performances, a feel-good local story.
