Canada’s own Walt Wingfield, played by Rod Beattie, is coming to the neighbourhood on Feb. 17 in a gala fundraiser for the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC).
Wingfield’s Progress will take place at the Acton Town Hall Centre.
Before the 8pm show start, two neighbouring churches, Knox Presbyterian and St. Alban’s Anglican, will offer hearty country suppers at 6pm. The gala is a fundraiser for the CRC as it prepares for an Ontario Municipal Board hearing about the proposed quarry southeast of Rockwood.
Walt’s adventures in Wingfield’s Progress will have the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter, laughter about the world we live in where the city dreamers meet the weathered farmers and the two groups find ways to come together to meet community challenges, organizers state.
Since 1984 the character of Walt Wingfield, businessman turned farmer, has been regaling audiences, both rural and urban, across Canada and the United States, in the series of seven plays by Dan Needles with more than 4,500 shows logged to date. Renowned Canadian actor Rod Beattie brings a delightful and memorable assortment of characters to life in these virtuoso one-man shows, organizers say.
In Wingfield’s Progress the spectre of urban development looms on the Seventh Concession, and Walt sounds the alarm. Can he mobilize the neighbourhood to save the rustic splendour of Larkspur? Does Larkspur want to be saved?
The Wingfield Gala will be a full evening of enjoyment with a country atmosphere, organizers say.
Homemade pies will be served at intermission, and wine and beer will be available for purchase. Tickets are $120 per person or $220 for two people. They must be purchased in advance at crcrockwood.org/wingfield/ or by contacting Linda Sword at 519-853-1896 or lsword@crcrockwood.org.
The CRC is raising funds to bring its case as a party objecting the proposed James Dick Construction Limited quarry southeast of Rockwood to the Ontario Municipal Board. Other parties involved are the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wellington County, Halton Region and the Town of Halton Hills. The CRC has engaged the services of legal counsel and five experts to give testimony at the hearing.
