Baldoon

by James Reaney

`Readers will recognize this as a typical Reaney play. In the 1830s at Baldoon settlement near Wallaceburg, Ontario, a house was haunted by various the sound of marching, bullets and stones which passed through walls without leaving holes, pots and pans that flew about the kitchen. This bit of history is the basis for Reaney's tale of John McTavish who forsook his love, Jane Pharlan, for a rich widow. But old Mrs Pharlan prostituted Jance to him, resulting in a baby girl. Jane died; the child was taken from Mrs Pharlan who was excommunicated as a witch; and unknown to anyone but McTavish, the child has grown up in his home as an adopted orphan. When his house becomes haunted and the local religious authorities cannot help, McTavish, with the threat of excommunication now over his head, visits Dr Troyer -- a Dutch witchfinder. He forces McTavish to see that unless the truth is revealed, he and his family will have no peace. To complicate matters, the solution is tied up with a rivalry between two conflicting religious dour repressive Presbyterians, of whom McTavish and Mrs Pharlan are part, and the joyous love of God characteristic of the Tunkards, whom Troyer represents. Finally Troyer wins out; Mrs Pharlan is exposed as a witch; McTavish confesses his past.'

Genres: Drama

120 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1976

About the author

James Crerar Reaney, OC FRSC was a Canadian poet, playwright, librettist, and professor. Reaney won Canada's highest literary award, the Governor General's Award, three times and received the Governor General's Award for Poetry or Drama for both his poetry and his drama.