Wingfield Series

"The Wingfield Cycle" is a Canadian series of six one-man plays - "Letter from Wingfield Farm", "Wingfield's Progress", "Wingfield's Folly", "Wingfield Unbound", "Wingfield on Ice" and "Wingfield's Inferno" - written by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie and performed by Rod Beattie. They tell the story of Walt Wingfield, a stock broker-turned-farmer living in a fictional small town in Ontario called Persephone Township and his various misadventures while trying to make a living in the agriculture business. The plays progress as a series of letters written by Walt to his friend, the editor of the Larkspur newspaper.

History of the Wingfield Cycle

Plays in the Wingfield Cycle

Letter from Wingfield Farm

Walt Wingfield, a Toronto stock broker, decides to take up farming, and buys the old Fisher place in Persephone Township. He meets his new neighbours, including Freddie, his nephews Willie and Dave, Don, the elderly Squire, and Jimmy.

Episode 1Following in the footsteps of Thoreau, stockbroker Walt Wingfield acquires two hundred acres north of Toronto and sets out to farm “using some of the old ways.” A broken-down racehorse and a sick duck form the basis for his first misadventures.

Episode 2Stockbroker-turned-farmer Walt Wingfield gets introduced to doing business Persephone-style when he sets out to buy a cord of firewood. Then neighbour Freddy and his nephews show up at Walt’s place for a surprise, late-night visit.

Episode 3An early morning fire alarm at Freddy’s turns into a public embarrassment for Walt. Then the neighbours decide Walt and his horses are working too slowly to get a crop and plant his fields for him -- armed with the latest technology.

Episode 4Fed up with his horses, Mortgage and Feedbin, Walt goes in search of an older, wiser animal at Freddy’s. When he meets an ancient draft horse named King, it’s love at first sight. And borrowing a manure spreader from next door turns into an all-day excursion.

Episode 5Walt faces the prospect of sending his pigs to the slaughter-house, Walt and Jimmy almost come to grief trying to break in Walt’s team of horses, and, as the February snow flies and the bills mount, Walt contemplates returning to work part-time at the brokerage firm.

Wingfield's Progress

Walt and his friends attempt to halt a condominium development on the 7th line known as Persephone Glen Homes. Attempts include running for office and using the code of farming.

Episode 6Freddy and Maggie get spooked when Walt and Jimmy show up at the farm one winter night, escorted by the police, and Walt’s hackles are raised when he discovers survey stakes for a condominium development in the field across the road.

Episode 7Walt gets snagged by the police while "practicing" fishing, nearly comes to grief while fixing the barn roof with Freddy and Jimmy, and takes on Township Council over a condominium development proposal.

Episode 8Walt's new geese turn out to be a problem, and his campaign to run for Township council hits a bump, but he does score a small victory in the fund-raising department.

Episode 9Don helps Walt deal with a hen-house predator, Walt tries a door-knocking campaign in his bid for a seat on Township council, and the boys reflect on what country living might have to offer a city dweller.

Episode 10Walt and his neighbours stage a devastating display of farming-at-its-messiest to discourage prospective clients of thecondominium development across the road.

Wingfield's Folly

Walt questions his farming lifestyle after a letter from his firm in Toronto. He accepts a marriage proposal from Maggie, Freddie's sister.

Episode 11Once again in winter's grip, Walt looks after chores at Don's, risks life and limb trying to get his horses out of the barn, and acquires an "enforcer", Mrs. Pankhurst, the goat.

Episode 12Freddy declares that Walt's newly acquired but ancient tractor needs a "tune-up" and takes it to pieces in his front yard. Meanwhile Maggie helps Walt deliver a new lamb back at the farm.

Episode 13Walt discovers the secret to working with his old draft horse, King, prints his own currency and persuades his neighbours to join him in a closed economy on The Seventh Line. Then disaster strikes at the turkey shed.

Episode 14Walt's currency scheme hits a snag when Dry Cry starts counterfeiting the "Walt". Freddy and Don organize a "work party" to deal with the problem at Dry Cry's store after dark.

Episode 15Walt gets in a fight with Maggie over an old boyfriend who is trying to swindle her and determines to sell out and move back to the city. Freddy is hired as auctioneer.

Wingfield Unbound

Walt attempts to convince the community that the Hollyhock Mill would make a great historic museum. Maggie turns out to be expecting.

Episode 16Freddy and Walt try to duplicate the recipe after it appears Spike the hound has eaten the casserole Maggie made for the Institute. The Squire's memory-loss prompts Walt to look for a museum site to protect local heritage.

Episode 17Walt and Freddy play vet to a stiff sheep and Walt buys a fine new ram for the flock which no one else seems to want. It isn't long before Walt finds out why.

Episode 18When Walt takes his museum proposal to Township council he gets an enthusiastic response - until he tells them he wants to house it in the Hollyhock Mill. Back at Freddy's, Walt hears the story of the Miller's Curse!

Episode 19Walt is pressured into helping Willy and Dave out of a jam over a cattle pyramid scheme and attempts to haul the haunted millstone out of the stream at Hollyhock - with near fatal results.

Episode 20Walt and Maggie's farm is the only one on The Seventh Line hit with a violent wind storm, then The Squire accompanies Walt to the mill stream at Hollyhock where Walt has yet another narrow escape.

Wingfield on Ice

Persephone is hit with an ice storm, Maggie gives birth to their daughter, Hope.

Episode 21With Maggie expecting, the neighbours on The Seventh Line are worried Walt may be cracking up. Walt discovers The Squire has a brother he doesn't talk to.

Episode 22With a baby on the way, Walt Wingfield tried to spread harmony in the township only to get mixed up in some old and not-so-old local feuds.

Episode 23Funeral arrangements for Walt's goat, Mrs. Pankhurst, are complicated by an unwanted police escort, a severe ice storm and widespread power outages.

Episode 24Ice still blankets Persephone Township but the locals are planning pot luck at the community hall and Walt notices tensions among his neighbours are easing.

Episode 25Maggie Wingfield gives birth in the middle of the ice storm without a doctor present; The Squire's brother, Lucky Gus, comes home.

Wingfield's Inferno

The Orange Hall catches fire. Or did it? Hope says her first word.

Episode 26Baby Hope is taking her first steps and Walt and Maggie fear they may have to get rid of Spike the hound; fire strikes the community hall in Larkspur.

Episode 27Livestock woes plague Walt as he inadvertently hobbles his prize filly Dividend and tries to outwit a skunk that is stealing eggs from the barn.

Episode 28Harold sets Walt up as chairman of the new hall committee without being candid about the chances of getting the project launched; Walt's chicken woes continue.

Episode 29The hall committee hatches a new building scheme; Willy and Dave find a way to introduce Walt's filly to the race track; and Walt and Maggie witch for water.

Episode 30Walt's filly Dividend makes her race track debut and Walt pulls wool over the eyes of the local MP with the help of the entire community.

Novelization

The playwright also published these plays as novels. Letters From Wingfield Farm covers the first three plays; Wingfield's Hope:More Letters from Wingfield Farm, the last three.

Reception

See also

External links

* [http://wingfieldfarm.ca Walt Wingfield homepage]
* [http://www.wingfieldfarm-usa.com Wingfield-USA]