This past weekend, we spent another day enjoying Prince Edward Island. First, we had lunch at the Island Preserve Company. Then we took in the musical Evangeline at the Homburg Theatre in the Confederation Centre for the Arts.
The Island Preserve store and restaurant is in New Glasgow, a short drive north of Highway 2 between Summerside and Charlottetown. I love this location in the autumn, as the place is decorated for the season.
The beautiful autumn weather let us explore the area at our leisure as well. The cool, sunny day was pleasant enough requiring a jacket.
This Company sells teas and preserves, from well stocked, beautiful displays.
The preserves accompany many of the restaurant menu items and the teas are on the menu.
In addition, there is a sampling bar set up in the store for the preserves and the teas. The variety is excellent and priced for tourists.
This is late season for the restaurant, the last few weeks before they close.
The building is beside the Clyde River, with huge windows, bordered with stained glass.
The vaulted ceiling displays quilts and draws the eye.
There is a wide variety on the menu, from beef to chicken, but again we opt for seafood.
The fish cakes I had were delicious as was Rick's cup of chowder.
The place filled with bus loads of Japanese tourists while we were there and individual groups of visitors from all over the eastern seaboard took up the remainder of the restaurant. This time of year, it closes at 4 p.m.
The Confederation Center in Charlottetown is a wonderful facility. We have enjoyed a variety of performances at the Homburg theatre over the years and this one did not disappoint.
Evangeline is a production equal to any we have seen in New York, Toronto or London. The cast was excellent, including Gabriel and Evangeline, the main characters. The full cast scenes, especially those in Act 1, set in Nova Scotia, were stirring, and gave an incredible glimpse into Acadian life in the 1650s. The sets too were excellent, as were props and costumes. The sound, with one or two glitches, was perfect, so that we could hear every word over the orchestra, which also was exceptional.
The only criticism we have of the production is that it is a bit long. While we enjoyed every minute, we felt some of the scenes could have been cut, especially in Act two. However, we recommend this production to anyone who enjoys musical theatre. It is well done.
Evangeline, showing the British treatment of the Acadians, took us back in time, to the grave injustice done to these peaceful people. It involved a love story and highlighted the determination and spirit of a woman caught in the struggle and search to find her husband. However, as I watched the Acadians being taken from their homes by the ruling British and their search for a new home, I could not help but make the comparison to the millions of people today who are running for their lives, searching for a new home. Over three hundred years after the Acadians were mistreated, we still have not learned how to get along with each other.
We had delicious food for the body that day in a great setting, but the food for thought was just as important and beautifully inspired.
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