For nearly 30 years, Rod Beattie has been delighting audiences across Canada with the antics of stockbroker-turned-gentleman farmer Walt Wingfield and the oddball residents of Persephone Township.
Rosebud Theatre is debuting their next production on August 28. Letter from Wingfield Farm stars Rod Beattie, pictured, as Walt Wingfield and the eclectic residents of Persephone Township. The first play in the seven part series runs from August 28 to 30 at Rosebud Theatre.
Based on playwright Dan Needles’ real-life experiences, this fish-out-of-water story has become one of Canada’s most enduring comedies, spawning six theatrical sequels, two anthologies, and a television series.
From August 28 to 30, Rosebud Theatre will present the first play in the series, Letter from Wingfield Farm, where Walt recounts his first year as a man of the soil through a series of letters to the editor at the local newspaper. He trades his stressful city life for the promise of idyllic, pioneer farming with unexpected, and often humourous, results.
“I think there’s a bit of Walt Wingfield in so many of us,” said Adam Furfaro, Executive Director of Rosebud Centre of the Arts. “The desire to get away from it all is a big part of what draws people to visit the arts hamlet of Rosebud. Matching this beloved one-man play with our unique rural setting will be a real treat for our audiences.”
To say Wingfield is a one-man play is technically accurate, as there is only Beattie onstage, but this veteran comedic actor instantly uses an arch of the back, a jut of the chin or a wide-eyed expression to make audiences believe they are seeing a whole cast onstage, including Walt, his neighbour Freddy, Ed the newspaper editor, and a host of other characters.
“People who have lived or grown up in small rural environments often tell us we must have had their community in mind because they recognize each of the characters. It’s as if every Canadian farming community has a Freddy (jack of all trades), a Squire (elder statesman), a Willy and Dave (younger, out-there-on-the-edge guys), a Don (the one successful farmer) etc,” said Beattie.
During this summer’s remounting of Wingfield at Victoria’s Belfry Theatre, where each of the seven plays has premiered, Beattie will mark a milestone with his 4500th appearance as Walt Wingfield on stage.
“There’s a reason Wingfield has been one of Canada’s largest theatrical success stories,” said Furfaro. “Parents, grandparents and teenagers alike will appreciate the gentle humour and shared humanity this story has to offer.”
Letter from Wingfield Farm runs August 28 to 30 at Rosebud Theatre. Call the Box Office at 1-800-267-7553 to book or visit www.rosebudtheatre.com.
“Persephone Township is a great place to spend a couple of hours, no matter where you come from. If from the city it’s great to leave the noise and the bigness behind; if from the country it’s a relief to see someone else’s struggles to cope with the mysteries of farm life,” said Beattie.
