Aug 17 - Rising Tide Theatre

We spent the afternoon in Trinity. The harbour at Trinity was first used by fishing ships around the 16th century. The Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real named the location "Trinity" as he arrived on Trinity Sunday, 1501 although another account gives his arrival as 1500.

Fishermen from the West Country of England began using Trinity as a summer station in the migratory fishery in the 1570s. Summer fishermen continued to be primarily from the Channel Islands, especially Jersey, and Weymouth in Dorset until a permanent settlement was established. Trinity was settled by merchants from Poole, England during the 18th century, citing reasons such as the easily defensible harbour and abundance of shore space for fishing premises. Trinity was the site that Sir Richard Whitbourne held the first court of Admiralty in 1615, establishing the first court of justice in North America.

By the late 18th century, the merchant firms in Trinity were operating 35 ocean-going ships, exporting 100,000 quintals of dried cod and supplying about 6,000 inhabitants. One quintal equaled 100 lbs.

The 2021 census put the population of Trinity at 76 living in 36 of its 76 total private dwellings. Tourism has become a major source of income.

We attended the New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant put on by the Rising Tide Theatre. By the way, last night’s production of the Flying Doctor was brutal. It was adapted from a play story by Moliere. He is rolling over in his grave.

The Pageant tells the story of Trinity from its beginnings in the early 1500s through to the late 1800s by doing vignettes in various settings around the town. We heard about the merchants and their usurious practices; the ravages of pirates; the plight of women, especially widows; the dreadful disaster of 1892 that claimed 24 men and boys; and the establishment of a district court of assizes in 1845. In word and song and with plenty of humour, it truly showed the deep fondness that Newfoundlanders have for their cherished past.

It's Trinity Festival Weekend here. The big event for the day was bidding to have two town officials jump off a boat into the cold Atlantic. The funds raised will go towards a new firetruck – the old one was demolished in a terrible accident last year.

Dinner tonight was at the Rising Tide Theatre – I had cod and Doug had roast beef. Each place setting had dessert already laid out (a delicious blueberry square which most of us devoured before the first course arrive) and a bun and butter pat sealed in a baggie. Might have to adopt that serving technique. Keeps the buns fresh!

After the 120 of us ate, we were treated to the show “Shenanigans”, full of songs and skits showing us more about the Newfoundland people. We’ll always remember the parody of Shania Twain’s song, “Feel Like a Woman” done by the male cast members “Feel Like a Bay Man”. It was a most enjoyable night, and we were even home before dark, always a good thing in this land of no streetlights, few street signs, and lots of wildlife.Weiterlesen