VETERAN ACTOR Rod Beattie, no stranger to the play-writing prowess of Dan Needles, works his way through the Theatre Orangeville production of “Ed’s Garage”. Directed by Doug Beattie, the play also stars fellow actors Murray Furrow, Tim Campbell and Jane Spence. Contributed Photo Ed is, but not merely, the owner of a garage. It is a place of healing for more than motors. Come, bring your problems, fears, entanglements – all the sources of your tension and unhappiness to Ed. While his staff administers to the ailments and maintenance needs of your vehicle, Ed’s restorative philosophies will ease your weary psyche.

And in Ed’s Garage, now playing at Theatre Orangeville, Rod Beattie portrays all Ed’s whimsy and talents with aplomb and confidence, sure in his own considerable comedic talent and with full faith in Ed.

Riding at his side, with equal assurance in the power of the Edisms, is Nick, deftly played by Murray Furrow. A total believer, Nick nevertheless pushes and pulls at Ed’s seemingly careless ways in the matter of finances with the fervent wish of keeping the garage business solvent and the Ed-isms flowing.

When tall, handsome Peter, nicely performed by Tim Campbell, enters as a stranger breaking into the comfort of familiarly, the masculine trinity is complete.

Then, along comes the charming and beautiful Jane Spence, as Cassandra, bowling into the three males like so many five-pins with her vivacious feminine persona. She is completely convincing the do-it-by-the-book psychotherapist and delivers a delightful foil Ed’s ever-present calm.

Ed’s Garage is a folk tale that, when you leave, will have you laughing at the play, some people that you know and yourself. It is folklore reflection of rural Canada, plucking the eccentric gems out the villages and putting them down squarely on centre stage.

It seems that playwright Dan Needles penned this play as a “neighbourhood” piece to his famous Wingfield Farm series. Massaged somewhat following its first showing at Theatre Collingwood, it is Rod Beattie’s first go-round with Ed’s Garage.

Mr. Beattie, of course, is renowned for filling the houses when he comes to towns all across Canada with the Wingfield Farm one-man plays and he is clearly in comfortable shoes with the role of Ed.

The gentle ebb and flow of the play, with a plot like life, rolls from really funny to rather thoughtful and is always entertaining. Important as timing is to comedy, these actors know how to keep that flow and make the changes in mood without a hitch.

This is a tale of the conventional versus (in the most amicable possible way, you should understand) the unconventional, surely a traditional source of struggle (however amicable). Each learns from the other; each contributes to the formation of character and the solving of problems.

Acceptance is all. Acceptance of differences is the great learning process, a life-long engagement. Where regimental strictness confronts liberality, there must be confrontation. Only an affectionate temperament, a keen sense of prescience and the benevolence of Nature can truly temper such confrontation.

Also entirely at home with Mr. Needles’ work is the play’s director, Doug Beattie. This is his 10th Needles play as director, with another coming next December “on tour [in] southern Ontario.” He has kept the play tightly knit which neatly contains the apparent easiness of the plot and dialogue. There is no sloppiness here. For all, the play is rural in tone and humorous in nature, it is also slick and beautifully orchestrated.

Don’t miss it.

Ed’s Garage runs until May 23. Tickets at Theatre Orangeville box office and at www.theatreorangeville. ca.