Mending Fences down to earth

Mending Fences is the story of 28-year-old Drew (Iain Stewart) who returns to a farmhouse in rural Saskatchewan to re-connect with his emotionally-distant and difficult father after 13 years apart.

While this set-up may not sound laugh-out-loud funny, in the hands of playwright Norm Foster, there are plenty of comic moments and zingy one-liners to balance out the heavier emotional scenes.

Drews father Harry (Jack Nicholsen) hasnt learned from the mistakes of the past. He pushed his wife and teenage son out of his life through neglect and selfishness, and he runs the risk of doing the same with his neighbour-turned-lover Gin (Jane Spidell). Fortunately for him, Gin is a tough cookie with a great capacity for love.

The story alternates between the present and several pasts, and the transitions are effectively signaled through focused lighting and sound of a chill wind. The time-shifting allows the audience to develop a real empathy for Harry, as we see the seeds of his present problems sown in his troubled past. (Though the technique is less successful for helping us understand why Drew is a self-absorbed jerk.)

The plays structure is layered and sophisticated, but the humour and message are accessible and down to earth.

Mending Fences Through November 9 Neptune Studio Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street

$25-$61

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Mending Fences down to earth