Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909) was born and died in South Berwick, Maine. Her work was widely published and highly esteemed in her own lifetime. THE COUNTRY OF THE POINTED FIRS (1896) is considered Jewett's finest work, described by Henry James as her "beautiful little quantum of achievement." Despite James's diminutives, the novel remains a classic. Because it is loosely structured, many critics view the book not as a novel, but a series of sketches; however, its structure is unified through both setting and theme. Jewett herself felt that her strengths as a writer lay not in plot development or dramatic tension, but in character development.

Pontine's production of THE COUNTRY OF THE POINTED FIRS uses storytelling, music, puppets, and masks to create a theatrical context for Jewett's vision of life in New England maritime villages. A cast of Jewett characters is introduced through the course of the play: Mrs. Todd, a country woman whose knowledge of local herbs and traditional medicine earns her living; Mrs. Blackett, the matriarch of Green Island who remains a child at heart; and Captain Littlefield, who is haunted by memories of his strange adventures at sea. Pontine's collage of poetic movement, intimate stories, pastoral imagery, and traditional melodies pays homage to the simple beauty and insight of Sarah Orne Jewett's writing.

Judy Harrison, writing for the York County Coast Star, said, "Mathews and Gathers are talented actors who move like dreams and infuse their work with tangible love for what they do. No detail is unattended...the set, the props, the costumes, the lights, the choice of material, the pacing--everything is done with only one goal, excellence in total theatricality." Allison Grover, writing for the Exeter Newsletter said, "Mathews' and Gathers' gorgeous piece and flawless performance [brings] us into the lives of these wonderful, kind Mainers and Sarah Orne Jewett's beautiful writing--and we are happily changed for having known them."