riding the salt water waves

You begin to understand how meaningful the work of David French is to Newfoundlanders when his characters are likened to Shakespeare's.

"Mary is a Newfoundland girl's Juliet", says Krystin Pellerin, currently playing Mary Snow in Soulpepper's production of Salt Water Moon at the Young Centre.

Growing up in Mount Pearl, just outside of St. John's, Pellerin began her career at the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival, before studying at the National Theatre School, and going on to play a variety of classical and contemporary roles. But performing the work of a fellow Newfoundlander is a different sort of treat.

"I love French's work. It's very important to me because it comes from home, "she says with pride, "and it's incredible, to have the opportunity to play somebody like Mary. He's created characters who are so identifiable. I know so many people who are like Mary."

Salt Water Moon is part of the French's series of plays exploring the lives of the Mercer family; along with Leaving Home (produced by Soulpepper last season), 1949, Of the Fields Lately and Soldier's Heart, French's work examines deeply personal notions of family, identity, and relationships.

"Ted (Dykstra, the director of both Leaving Home and Salt Water Moon) reminded us that the script we're working with should be approached as a classical text," she explains, "and David French was there through the rehearsal process, which was very helpful."

Pellerin reflects on the advice David French gave during rehearsals in terms of balancing the comedy and drama in the piece.

"He commented on the quality of silences," she muses, "and said, yes, it's nice to get big laughs, but make sure you observe the silence too."

While Leaving Home sometimes painfully exposes the challenges faced by Mary and Jacob Mercer in later years, Salt Water Moon explores the moonlit, starry night that brings them together. The piece weaves a melange of emotions, some caustic, some tender, as Mary, having lost her father in the first World War, is confronted by Jacob (played by Jeff Lillico) who has just returned after a year-long absence in Toronto.

"Mary is 17, but ... it's like a 40-year-old mind in a 17-year-old body," she says thoughtfully.

"She's experienced an incredible amount of hardship."

Pellerin captures a wonderful mix of premature weariness and energetic precociousness in her performance. She notes that Mary, while mature in some ways, is still a teenager in others, and as such, experiences the same sort of self-involved drama that is characteristic of teens everywhere.

"It's hard to go outside yourself and try to imagine what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. That's why Jacob and Mary butt heads so vigorously -they're still teenagers."

The intensity Pellerin and Lillico share is one that must be sustained for 80 minutes without interruption. Unlike many other dramatic works, the two only have one another to look to and rely on.

"It's 80 minutes, right through, yes, but it gets easier", she says with a laugh, "although when I did the first run-through, I went, 'okay, now I know how hard this is!' I was sweating, my heart was going, and I still am that way a bit -but you learn how to ride the wave."

Of her co-star, she says, "Jeff is there for me and I'm there for Jeff. He's my lifeline."

Pellerin will have considerably more co-stars in upcoming Soulpepper productions, as she is playing Cecily Pigeon in The Odd Couple (opening February 19th) and Audrey in As You Like It (opening March 6th).

"It's great," she says of the variety of roles, "it keeps things fresh, and it takes your mind off things. You can't be thinking about one part too hard, or you'll go squirrely. I like switching it up."

Salt Water Moon runs at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts until January 31st.

For more information, go to www.soulpepper.ca
Tickets can be purchased online at www.youngcentre.ca