Blog: Theatre Night Fever

Back to the Mercers
by Howard Dai

I’ve always been a big fan of David French’s Mercer Family series, and have been waiting for these Canadian plays to be put on stage in Vancouver. 

And they are finally here. Furthermore, the actors in this production are two of my good friends from last year’s school musical Grease. This production of Salt Water Moon features 18-year-old Jesse DeCoste, and 16-year-old Sofia Newman.

Jesse DeCoste, a singer, dancer and actor who has been performing from a young age, played Danny in New Westminster Secondary School’s 2011 musical Grease, a role made famous by John Travolta in the film version in the ‘70s. Having completed his first year at University of British Columbia, he is soon moving to England, where he has been accepted into the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

Sofia Newman is an actor, singer and musician. She attends New Westminster Secondary School, where she sings vocal jazz, plays percussion and occasionally sings with soul/funk band Duck Soldier. She is looking forward to her 5th year in Carousel Theatre's Teen Shakespeare Program, where she will play Trinculo in The Tempest. Her mother, Lisa Bunting, has also played Mary, in David French's 1949. Sofia’s father, Richard Newman, the director of this production, is an actor, musician and voice-over artist, who has directed for Sudbury Theatre Centre, Shakespeare Plus, Barkerville and The Vancouver Fringe Festival, among others, and played Jacob in David French's Of the Fields, Lately.

This production will run from June 19 to 29 at Carousel Theatre’s Large Studio on Granville Island. On Tuesday to Sunday night at 8pm, and Friday night at 6 and 9pm. Tickets are $15 each, and are available by the door or at.

“Salt-Water Moon on Granville Island” featured on David French’s website.

Come check out this wonderful work of David French, and see the young talents from Vancouver’s theatre scene!