Letter from Wingfield Farm

February 18 - March 8, 2015

By Dan Needles (Leacock Award for Humour Winner)

Starring Rod Beattie
Directed by Douglas Beattie
Original Music by Stephen Woodjetts
Stage Manger Paula Stewart

Rod Beattie stars as Walt and everyone else in Dan Needles' one-man comedy!

Dufferin County’s favorite son, Walt Wingfield, returns to your stage in the award-winning show that started it all at Theatre Orangeville in ’94!  

When a captain of industry trades in his pinstripe suit for overalls and retreats to a hundred acre farm, the residents of Persephone Township raise their eyebrows. 

In a series of letters to the editor of the Larkspur Weekly newspaper, Walt Wingfield tells the always hilarious and oft-times touching story of one man’s attempt to embrace a less complicated life!

"Author and actor come out 'Letter' perfect… breathtaking scope and depth ... Beattie is astonishingly adept." -The Toronto Star

What our patrons are saying  …

As a faithful fan of Wingfield having seen or heard them all, I must say I really enjoyed Sunday's performance.   Loved the talk after too!   To have the gift that Rod delivers to his audience, that creates laughter, is truly amazing!   It is a warmth we all crave...especially in this coldest of February days!   Thanks again for great and classy theatre!    RW.  

I was very happy to see Rod back as our favorite farming enthusiast.  I saw this play when it first debuted at Theatre Orangeville when I was in my twenties.  At that time my family went together for a wonderful outing.  My grandmother laughed and laughed through the entire play (as we all did).  Having come from a farming background, it was especially dear to her.  I have often recalled how while the entire audience was silent and Walt was tossing feed to his poultry, she chimed up in a loud voice "Oh!  He's feeding the chickens!"  Seeing this very scene again brought that special time back to me like it was yesterday.  We lost my grandmother recently and it was a welcome memory.
 

My parents purchased these tickets for myself and my husband so that he could enjoy some Canadian humour (he's from the States originally).  Although more than two decades have past, Rod has not lost his touch.  I could not envision anyone else bringing such life to these characters.  As a former actor with the Alliston Community Theatre, I can appreciate and admire how he has been able to maintain his enthusiasm and ability to entertain us as if it was his first time with these characters.  As a one man show, it certainly feels as though we have witnessed an entire cast of players.  He is simply brilliant!  Thank you for bringing him back to us.  T.B.
 

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Rod's performance as Walt.  He is truly amazing.    Even though there is only one person on the stage you feel as if there were several performers.  He changes from one character to the other so effortlessly and smoothly.   You know, my husband and I met Rod one evening in Orangeville.  The power had gone off in parts of the town and so the theatre was closed.  He was standing on the front steps apologizing to anyone who showed up.  I didn't recognize him and asked him if he worked there. My husband laughed and said, YES,  HE IS THE SHOW.     Looking forward to the next show.  M.J. 

Dan Needles latest show at Theatre Orangeville confirmed his comic genius. Thank goodness there was an intermission so we could catch our breath from laughing so much. Well done. E.R.