"Homecoming" is the sort of play that could enjoy success in any community that's ever had anything to do with farming, but its message is especially well delivered on the stage of the McGrane Theatre at Portage College in Lac La Biche.
"Homecoming" is the sort of play that could enjoy success in any community that's ever had anything to do with farming, but its message is especially well delivered on the stage of the McGrane Theatre at Portage College in Lac La Biche.
The play, performed by the Lac La Biche Players, opened last weekend and has its final two performances slated for tonight (Friday) and tomorrow night.
It helps that this incarnation of the play, modified from the original version to suit its northern Albertan audience, has a strong and dedicated cast. Each of the play's five main characters is convincingly brought to life, but lead actor and director Ken Yackimec steals the show as Jerry Wilson, the curmudgeonly farmer whose struggle to retire forms the basis for the plot.
That's not to say that the other members of the cast pale in comparison. Judi McLeod's portrayal of Jerry's wife, Marlene, is inspired, and newcomer to the Players' membership Andrew Whitson hold his own as the Wilsons' son Greg, who intends to take over the family farm.
Rounding out the main cast are Jody Dayton as family friend Norma Janson and Lisa Bayduza as the Wilsons' daughter Susan. Both actresses make the most of their more limited time on the stage. Mike Dickinson provides the voice of off-stage character Stringbean Roy.
"Homecoming," penned by Saskatchewan playwright Leeanne Minogue, is the story of Jerry's reluctant handing-over of his farm to his son Greg. The play is written in such a way that it appeals to a wide audience. The comedy is tried and true, for the most part, and toes the line between being too simple to be humorous and too sophisticated to be worthwhile. There are moments when the dialogue veers into more risqué territory, but the show is, by and large, family-friendly.
Some characters reap a greater harvest of chuckles than others, with Yackimec's Jerry and McLeod's Marlene leading the way, but there are reasons to smile throughout the show.
The play's setting is unvaried: all scenes take place in either Jerry's workshop or the Wilsons' farmhouse. The limited setting makes it easier to sympathize with Jerry and understand the difficulties he and his family face as the play progresses. Without other locations to distract, the farm becomes the whole of the Wilson family's existence. The constructed set is believable, changing from scene to scene to reflect the passage of time.
Other locations are mentioned, but each and every one of the play's lines is delivered either beside Jerry's workbench or beside Marlene's kitchen table-except for Stringbean Roy's few but memorable contributions.
As stated, "Homecoming" is a play that could impress audiences in any community that has ever heard of farming. Although it was written in Saskatchewan, it has made the transition to northern Alberta rather seamlessly, and audiences have so far been filling seats in the McGrane Theatre.
The final two performances of "Homecoming" are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased prior to the performances or upon arrival at the McGrane Theatre.
