Canadian popular culture is rich with stories of brave women who sacrificed much to ensure the safety and well being of others.
But one of those lesser known real-life heroines, at least perhaps in this province, is Myra Bennett, the lead character in Tempting Providence, now playing at Theatre Orangeville.
A nurse who worked along a 200 mile stretch of isolated Newfoundland coast (from Sally’s Cove to Port aux Choix) in the early to mid-1900s, Bennett has been dubbed “the Florence Nightingale of Newfoundland.”
Her medical career there became legendary; over several decades she delivered 750 babies, extracted 5,000 teeth and treated many other more serious ailments – in addition to tending to her own large family and countless accompanying domestic chores.
Before her death in 1990 at age 100, Bennett was awarded various medals from monarchs in England, whence she emigrated to Canada, as well as the Order of Canada medal.
Telling Bennett’s life story in a theatrical performance under two hours in length may seem an impossible task, but playwright Robert Chafe and the cast from Theatre Newfoundland Labrador (TNL) are more than up to the task with Tempting Providence.
The play has enjoyed remarkable success in Ireland, England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, the U.S. and, of course, Canada, where the TNL production has played more than 460 performances to more than 70,000 people in nine provinces and one territory.
The accolades are due in large part to Tempting Providence’s minimalist set, costumes and four player cast, all of which – not unlike the individuals portrayed in the play and indeed countless Newfoundlanders past and present – may appear elementary on the surface, but are revealed upon further examination as ingenious, genuine and remarkably adaptable to their surrounding environment.
Audiences will be amazed by how the actors manipulate the set’s table, four chairs and table cloth into various unpredictable forms and objects – seemingly transforming the set into a fifth player.
The fingerprints of director Jillian Keiley and stage manager Karen Griffin are obviously all over this production, as scenes, characters, emotions and tempos transition seamlessly and often.
Robert Wyatt Thorne (man) and Willow Kean (woman) are exceptional in their supporting roles, playing – despite what the program says – myriad characters visited and befriended by nurse Bennett.
Thorne and Kean are equally impressive in theatrical and comical scenes, many of which are among the play’s more important ones.
Their delivery is superb, despite a fumbled line or two in the preview show on Feb. 23, and their deliberately exaggerated Newfoundland accents for certain characters (specifically those played by Kean) add a touch of comedic relief at the most opportune moments.
Darryl Hopkins (as Angus Bennett), much like his real life character must have done with Bennett, manages to deftly defer much of the spotlight to his leading lady (in this case Deidre Gillard-Rowlings as nurse Bennett) without diminishing the strength and importance of his own character.
It’s surely no easy feat – for either man – but with help of brilliant dialogue from Chafe, Hopkins masterfully rises to the challenge, with seemingly little effort.
Of course, the real star of the show is Gillard-Rowlings, who has been touring nationally and internationally with Tempting Providence since 2003 and will soon reach her 500th performance as Bennett.
Her expertise and comfort with the role is evident from the start, though a couple of times her familiarity with lines seems to work to her detriment, as it sounds more like she’s reading a script than delivering an impassioned monologue by Bennett.
But those rare occasions are not nearly enough to spoil an otherwise thrilling and monumental performance.
Gillard-Rowlings adeptly transforms into Bennett before the audience’s very eyes. It’s a fine tribute to a remarkable woman and a priceless piece of Canadian history. In that sense, Tempting Providence is a marvelous production for one more reason: it manages to educate and entertain; a rare feat for any live production.
Prospective audience members judging Tempting Providence on its rudimentary promotional poster and austere-sounding advertising (it’s billed as “a story of love and courage from Newfoundland”), will be pleasantly surprised at the conclusion of the play.
While a love story is undeniably at its core, the production appeals to both genders and young and old alike, as it offers a little of everything: drama, comedy, action and even a few scenes of nail-biting suspense.
Audiences won’t regret the experience, which is somehow yet unmistakably infused with an emanating comfort reminiscent of authentic and renowned Newfoundland hospitality.
Tempting Providence plays six shows a week until March 11. For tickets call 519-942-3423 or 1-800-424-1295 or visit theatreorangeville.ca.
