Wikipedia article 'Of the Fields, Lately' is a Canadian theatrical play by David French, first staged by Tarragon Theatre in 1973.[Gaetan Charlebois, [http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Of%20the%20Fields%2C%20Lately "Of the Fields, Lately"]. 'Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia', July 13, 2021.] It is the second in his Mercer Plays series, following 'Leaving Home' (1972) and preceding 'Salt-Water Moon' (1984), '1949' (1988) and 'Soldiers Heart' (2001).[Eugene Benson, "French, David" in Colin Chambers, 'The Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Theatre', London: Continuum, 2002 [2005], p.291.]
The play centres on Ben Mercer returning home to attend his aunt's funeral, two years after the events of 'Leaving Home'.[John Fraser, "Of the Fields low key but brilliant". 'The Globe and Mail', October 1, 1973.] 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.[
]
The play was the winner of the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award in 1973.
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.[Allan Wallach, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93240636/ "A comedy-drama"]. 'Newsday', May 28, 1980.]
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.[J. Kelly Nestruck, "Worthy of revival but too sentimental". 'The Globe and Mail', July 3, 2009.]
Film
Mike Newell directed a television film adaptation of the play, which was broadcast by CBC Television in January 1976.[Blaik Kirby, "Of the Fields moving". 'The Globe and Mail', January 10, 1976.] 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.[
]
Sullivan won the Earle Grey Award for best performance in a television movie at the 1977 ACTRA Awards.[Lawrence O'Toole, "ACTRA award goes to CBC Beaverbrook play". 'The Globe and Mail', April 15, 1977.]
References
Category:1973 plays
Category:Plays by David French
Category:1976 films
Category:1976 television films
Category:Canadian drama television films
Category:CBC Television original films
Category:Films directed by Mike Newell
Category:Canadian plays adapted into films
Category:1970s Canadian films
|