Salt-Water Moon is a Canadian theatrical play by David French, first staged by Tarragon Theatre in 1984.[1] It is the third in his Mercer Plays series, following Leaving Home (1972) and Of the Fields, Lately (1973), and preceding 1949 (1988) and Soldier’s Heart (2001).[2]
Unlike the earlier plays, which centred on Jacob and Mary Mercer's relationships with their adult children in the 1960s, Salt-Water Moon depicts the beginning of their relationship in 1926. Jacob previously dated Mary until breaking up when he moved to Toronto a year earlier, but upon returning to Coley's Point he discovers that she is now engaged to another man and sets out to win her back.[3]
The original Tarragon production starred Richard Clarkin as Jacob and Denise Naples as Mary.[1] A 1986 production in Ottawa for the Great Canadian Theatre Company starred Marshall Button and Rona Waddington.[4] A production for the Blyth Festival in 2004 starred Darren Keay and Charlotte Gowdy;[5] Keay had also played Jacob in the premiere of the sequel Soldier's Heart in 2001.[6]
A 2008 revival for Soulpepper Theatre starred Jeff Lillico and Krystin Pellerin.[7]
The play won both the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award[8] and the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play[9] in 1985, and was a Governor General's Literary Award nominee for English-language drama at the 1985 Governor General's Awards.[10] Bill Glassco was also a Dora nominee for Best Director, and Sue LePage was nominated for Best Set Design.[11]
At the 15th ACTRA Awards in 1986, Lenore Zann won the award for best actress in a radio drama for a CBC Radio production of the play.[12] Urjo Kareda was also nominated, but did not win, best radio writing for the adaptation.[13]