Of the Fields, Lately

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), 1949 (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. 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. 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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