Plans to celebrate Come from Away and Newfoundland’s culture with a massive Screech-in in Toronto have been cancelled due to strong public reaction.
Mervish Productions, which has been putting off the hugely-popular musical based on Gander’s response to 9-11, had announced that it was looking to attempt a world-record breaking Screech-in in July.
Screech-ins are a tongue-in-cheek ceremony performed on visitors to Newfoundland in which they are required to kiss a cod, down a jigger of rum and recite a short phrase in order to be named an honorary Newfoundlander.
News that a massive Screech-in was planned in Toronto drew mixed reaction. While meant to be fun, it does rub some Newfoundlanders the wrong way. Others felt a Screech-in should only be performed in Newfoundland itself.
Mervish Productions has since announced that many took exception to the idea and the event is cancelled. Instead, they will be sending four lucky couples who attend any of the show’s four performances from Friday, July 5th to Sunday, July 7th, to Gander to participate in a Screech-in on native soil.