Comedy-drama 8m/6f/
The Mercer family and their extended clan must come to some emotional and political decisions when Newfoundland joins Confederation on April Fool’s Day of 1949. As the members of the family stand on the precipice of both a new beginning in Canada and a farewell to Newfoundland culture and independence, humour and pathos illuminate the larger question of what it means to have a country.
“Although 1949 is about conflicts within the Mercer family arising from Newfoundland’s decision to enter Confederation, its spiritual ancestry is universal. With the love French bears his characters, and the humour, poignancy, and insight that grace every scene, 1949 stands squarely in the rich tradition of world literature – Chekhov springs to mind – that maps the intricate joys and torment of the human soul.”
-Metropolis
“Written on an epic scale with an epic theme…The stories are told with French’s warm humour and effortless command of stage convention.”
-The Globe & Mail