Set in 1848, when thousands of Irish refugees fleeing the Great Famine arrived in Toronto, “Shelter” is the story of one refugee, Mary, and her life in Ireland, the onset of the Famine, the brutal incident that propelled her to leave, and her arrival in Canada and an unknown future. Mary recounts her memories of love, lust, hunger, and heartbreak from where she now sits in Canada. Music, memory, and Mary’s one real love Michael are powerful elements of the story, with haunting, heart-scalding music enveloping her and those who hear her.
