BWW Interviews: Rod Beattie talks Wingfield: Lost and Found

Canadian favourite Rod Beattie is back in Toronto as Walt Wingfield in Wingfield: Lost and Found. This show brings the city the latest in the misadventures of Toronto stockbroker-turned-farmer - and is being heralded as the best Wingfield to date.

Rod Beattie has been performing the role for 25 years and this is the 7th incarnation. Wingfield: Lost and Found has its opening night tonight at The Panasonic Theatre, and Rod took a few minutes to talk to BWW about the last 25 years, and the journey ahead:

It has been awhile since the show last played in Toronto, but it has been warmly received in smaller communities and is always a popular hit at London's Grand Theatre. Do you find you get a different reaction playing in Canada's largest city?

It has actually been less than four years since Wingfield's Inferno played in Toronto so Wingfield Lost & Found will play to lots of familiar faces and friends both new and old. In answer to the question about different reactions, I'm always more impressed by the similarities than the differences. It seems that Walt and his stories have a universality that belies the apparently parochial setting. In the same sense that one can "travel widely in Concord, Mass." one can taste all of life's variety in Persephone Township.

With 25 years of doing Wingfield under your belt, how have you grown as an actor and what kinds of changes have been most noticeable to you?

I don't really know about growth as an actor. That's really for the audience to decide. One goes out there on stage to serve the text and the audience and give it one's best shot each time. If one does it honestly and completely the text will reach the audience unimpeded and that's the best one can hope for.

You have mentioned in other interviews that the development of technology over the years has caused changes in the stories - with everyone in the play now being hooked up and online. Was that a difficult thing to integrate into Persephone after so many years?

The technology has changed somewhat as you point out but what people have to say to each other hasn't really changed much. And Walt is still on a 'need to know' basis as far as the neighbours are concerned so whether he learns too little too late by hand written note or by cell phone doesn't make a big difference.

With the recent collapse of various financial markets, does the show now take on a different tone than it did before? Perhaps slightly more cautious?

The woes of the financial markets have basically confirmed the disaffection that Walt has felt from the beginning about the 'world of finance'. Walt is good at stock-broking but he has never believed in it much. He'd rather get dirt under his fingernails and snow on his boots.

Do you get out to see much theatre yourself? And if so, what were some of your favourites last year?

I live in Stratford which is a good place to see theatre. I liked all the shows I saw last year, especially A Winter's Tale and Dangerous Liaisons.

Finally, what one thing would you say to a younger audience to encourage them to come out and give Wingfield a try?

As for the "younger audience" I've never known how to answer that. We've never aimed Wingfield at a particular age range, and we've never 'dumbed down' to please people. I guess I'd say that if you're smart and reasonably informed and have a sense of humour you're going to like Wingfield.

When and Where?

Wingfield: Lost and Found
The Panasonic Theatre

Performance Schedule:

January 12th-30th (opening January 14th) 2011

Wednesday, 2PM & 8PM Thursday - Friday, 8PM Saturday, 2PM & 8PM Sunday, 2PM

Tickets can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416-872-1212 or online at www.mirvish.com

 

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