Contributed Photo Murray Furrow and Jane Spence to star alongside Rod Beattie and Tim Campbell in the Dan Needles Comedy – Ed’s Garage (May 6 – 23) at Theatre Orangeville. The same “smart humour”, as Murray Furrow puts it, as is in the Wingfield series comes bubbling up in the new production of Ed’s Garage, opening at Theatre Orangeville May 7.

Murray Furrow plays the part of Nick in the play, working along with Jane Spence, Tim Campbell and Rod Beattie, the last of whom has a long-running connection to the Wingfield series and plays the starring role of Ed in this production.

This is Mr. Furrow’s first role in a Dan Needles play and he is impressed with the work. It is also his first time acting in Theatre Orangeville. While acting keeps Mr. Furrow busy usually, he has also worked for a renovations company, where the owner is an ex-director and only hires actors.

Orangeville is new to Ms Spence as well. She is the only lady in the play with a part about a young citified lady, Cassandra, who comes to the country with, no doubt, comic lessons to learn.

Ms Spence’s career spans a wide range of acting styles, from Shakespeare to American drama, from mainstream theatre to country stages.

“When I was in my 20’s,” she said, speaking about the ups and downs of an actor’s career, “I had to balance the empty slots with other things. I teach and do workshops.”

This is also her first time with a Dan Needles play and she is enjoying the process. “I have a lovely role,” she commented. “I love doing comedy.”

It is not the first time that the two have worked together. They did Mid- Summer’s Night Dream together in Oakville, “the day the tree fell down.”

They explained that they were performing in an openair theatre in Oakville one summer and just before the audience was to come in, a tree, which was actually part of the stage and the setting, fell down on a section of the seats, which were, luckily, still empty.

They have worked with director Doug Beattie before as well and he is pleased at how rehearsals were coming along, as they begin to understand the levels within the play.

Said Mr. Furrow, “It’s like peeling an onion.”

They began that “peeling,” as Mr. Beattie told me, by sitting at the table, in the early days of rehearsal, to “shape” the play. “We’re having a lot of fun,” he remarked.

Although Ed’s Garage has been produced once before, Mr. Needles has done a bit of a rewrite on it and this will be the first time Rod Beattie

Messrs Doug and Rod are brothers) has performed in it.

“The characters in the play are in some ways eccentric,” Mr. Furrow said, “but they are very real. They’re people the audience will recognize.”

“The characters [in Ed’s Garage] are not the same people as in the Wingfield plays,” Doug Beattie confirmed. “There are differences between this and Wingfield, although it is very much the same place.”

He added, “Dan Needles has a very strong connection to this area. This play is a treasure of glimpses into some of the most deeply held convictions on rural life - there are aspects of this play that people will remember for years.”

Ms Spence’s comment was that “people will really enjoy this play – it’s fun working with such great performers.”

“As much as we want to entertain,” reflected Mr. Furrow, “it’s a play which will make people think. You’ll have had a wonderful time but you’ll have some things to think about.”

Ed’s Garage opens on May 7 and runs until May 23. Tickets at the Box Office as usual 519-941-3423 or at www.theatre orangeville.ca.