All Aboard the ‘Providence’ Express
For those who have watched Back to the Future and thought, “I wish I could visit the past!” this is the show for you. Start by finding the entrance to the K&P Trail near Hagerman Avenue where you’ll be surrounded by the buzzing of cicadas and live fiddle tunes played by Jan Leclair on the accordion and Karma Tomm on the violin. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see an apple tree shading a piece of railroad track—so realistic looking that it will leave you debating whether it’s real or a prop. And all of a sudden, you will be transported back to a time that is clearly not the present day.
Written and directed by Craig Walker, Providence takes place on June 16, 1875, one day before the grand opening of the Kingston-Pembroke Railway. This railway was more than just a track; it was a means of transportation, resources, agriculture, and people, connecting Kingston to the northern towns and promising a better future for many Kingstonians. The play is an imagined story, inspired by Walker’s experience meeting three men in an Irish pub, in which a conversation about Canada’s head of state ensued, and a well-known photograph displayed on an information sign at the K&P Trail. The photo on the K&P information sign depicts three construction workers and a little girl seated on the railway. Walker reanimates the four into characters in this tale that sheds light on the hardships of immigration in the 19th century through the lens of Irish and Scottish construction workers.
For a seemingly old-timey play, the plot and dialogue are surprisingly lighthearted and humorous. The witty back-and-forth between teenage Mary-Kate, played by Penelope Armenia Walker, and construction worker Alexander, played by Jake Henderson, is reminiscent of the charm of a sitcom. A particular exchange in which Mary-Kate mimics her father’s private complaints about Alexander’s drinking habits had the whole audience laughing. Similarly, the family banter is so relatable that it felt like listening to an argument at a Thanksgiving dinner.
What truly transported audience members into the past was the outdoor setting. Performing in the very location where the railway stood 150 years ago meant the essence and energy of the time and place were captured perfectly. The lush greenery and natural elements like the slow-setting sun, added to the uniqueness of the experience. You could glance upward and imagine the same trees being admired by workers from a century and a half ago, but also look down and imagine the railway tracks beneath the actors were placed by the same people the characters are based on. Even the sounds of rustling leaves, the buzzing of bugs, and the glare of the sun provided a natural scene that would be incredibly difficult to replicate in a theatre.
Another surprising and satisfying component of Providence is the accuracy and commitment the actors have to their characters. Deirdre, played by Dympna McConnell, has an air of protectiveness distinct from her daughter Mary-Kate’s sharp wit and Alexander’s irritation. Despite the different personalities on stage, the characters appear as old friends and the actors are able to play out their chemistry perfectly. The actors play their characters so well, in fact, that by the end of the show, as they sang their final song, I was a bit startled that they were not characters from the 1800s, but actors from the 21st century. Additionally, an incredibly immersive aspect is the Scottish and Irish accents the actors put on. I was so immersed in the consistency of their dialect that when the show was over, and I had left the venue, I was thinking in an Irish accent.
Though quite a bit of the set was provided by the surrounding nature, Production Designer Andrea Robertson did a phenomenal job with the costumes and props. The construction workers wear classic trousers held up by suspenders with shovels in their hands, while the women wear plain dresses with aprons, and carry camera supplies and sandwiches in a picnic basket. It is details like the ribbons in Mary-Kate’s hair that made the characters’ visuals so spectacular.
So the next time you find yourself craving to step through a portal and take a look into the past, think of Providence, a performance that makes you feel like you have lived out your own Marty McFly fantasy. And if that’s not enough to convince you, the opportunity to stroll through the K&P trail and reflect upon the rich past of Kingston is the perfect experience to follow.
‘Providence’ runs until August 3, 2025 at the K&P Trail near Hagerman Avenue as part of the The Kick & Push Festival. More information about the festival and tickets can be found here.
