When a sexually traumatized revival singer comes to Hope, Alaska on the eve of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896 she faces the challenges and dangers of living in a place where man and nature can be deadly.

SYNOPSIS:

In the summer of 1896, Mary (32), her teenage brother Martine and their father, Pastor John (58), arrive by steamship in Hope, Alaska low on funds and find a rough, struggling fledgling community of tents and rustic buildings instead of the thriving town they expected. Pastor John convinces the crusty owner of an outdoor cafeteria to let them hold a revival service for the miners and trappers. Mary’s virtuoso singing, accompanied by Martine on a piano, attracts a following of townspeople who are drawn to her voice and her beauty. Convinced Preacher John is the answer to her prayers, Leah, the pregnant young wife of the disgraced postmaster launches a campaign to build a church with the help of Mary and Preacher John. However, Preacher John is taking a cut from the collection plate to feed his gambling addiction. In the cliff hanger, Mary is attacked by a lecherous sled dogger and fights back.

During the season Preacher John runs off to the gold fields with the money for the church, Mary is forced to support herself by singing in the saloon, she and Martine are faced with the challenges of surviving winter in Alaska, Mary and the saloon girl reluctantly work together to help Leah through a difficult birth, a famous traveling opera singer visits and inspires Mary to strive for more with her singing leading to the town working to turn the unfinished church into an opera house (yes they really existed in rustic gold mining towns.)

Across the season she meets a Parisian opera singer touring the North American continent who opens Mary’s eyes to the business potential of her singing. She has a run in with an arrogant Jack London, struggles to handle an Alaska winter, meets Thomas Edison and his motion picture camera and clashes with Belinda Mulroney, a real historic woman of the Klondike, a rival entrepreneur in Dawson City.

On the day of the grand opening of the Hope Opera House, Mary is thrown by the reappearance of Preacher John who Mary feared was dead. He’s back from the gold fields broken and near collapse. Mary and Martine scramble to take care of him and handle the last-minute preparations for the grand opening. A frazzled Mary pulls herself together and is touched by the enthusiastic packed house. Her performance enthralls the audience and her finale rendition of Ou va la jeune hindoue (Bell Song from Lakme) brings the miners, trappers and townspeople to tears. The miner’s exuberant reaction soon gets out of hand and in the melee of scrambling bodies, an oil footlight is broken and flames race across the stage to the hem of Mary’s dress.

The second season begins with the still smoking rubble of the entire town which has burned to the ground. Mary survives as do the key characters, but with nothing left they must start again. The Klondike Gold Rush is in full swing and lures Mary and the others to leave for Juneau, Alaska where they will face new challenges during the craziness of the gold rush.

NORTHERN VOICE