Of the Fields, Lately

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Of the Fields, Lately is a Canadian theatrical play by David French, first staged by Tarragon Theatre in 1973.[1] It is the second in his Mercer Plays series, following Leaving Home (1972) and preceding Salt-Water Moon (1984), (1988) and Soldier’s Heart (2001).[2]

The play centres on Ben Mercer returning home to attend his aunt's funeral, two years after the events of Leaving Home.[3] Its original cast included Tim Henry as Ben, Sean Sullivan as his father Jacob, Florence Paterson as his mother Mary, and Sandy Webster as his aunt's widower Wiff Roach.[3]

The play was the winner of the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1973.[4]

The play received a Broadway production at the Century Theatre in 1980, starring Chris Cooper as Ben, William Cain as Jacob, Mary Fogarty as Mary and John Leighton as Wiff.[5]

A 2009 revival of the play at Soulpepper Theatre starred Jeff Lillico as Ben, Kenneth Welsh as Jacob, Diane D'Aquila as Mary and Eric Peterson as Wiff.[6]

Film[]

Mike Newell directed a television film adaptation of the play, which was broadcast by CBC Television in January 1976.[7] In the film, Sullivan and Paterson reprised their roles as Jacob and Mary, while Ben was played by R. H. Thomson and Wiff Roach was played by Gerard Parkes.[7]

Sullivan won the Earle Grey Award for best performance in a television movie at the 1977 ACTRA Awards.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Gaetan Charlebois, "Of the Fields, Lately". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia, July 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Eugene Benson, "French, David" in Colin Chambers, The Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Theatre, London: Continuum, 2002 [2005], p.291.
  3. ^ a b John Fraser, "Of the Fields low key but brilliant". The Globe and Mail, October 1, 1973.
  4. ^ William H. New (2002). Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada. University of Toronto Press. pp. 63–64.
  5. ^ Allan Wallach, "A comedy-drama". Newsday, May 28, 1980.
  6. ^ J. Kelly Nestruck, "Worthy of revival but too sentimental". The Globe and Mail, July 3, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Blaik Kirby, "Of the Fields moving". The Globe and Mail, January 10, 1976.
  8. ^ Lawrence O'Toole, "ACTRA award goes to CBC Beaverbrook play". The Globe and Mail, April 15, 1977.
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