By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
PORT COLBORNE—For the second time this season, the team at Lighthouse Festival has assembled a show full of laughs, heart, and a timely message at its heart that speaks to a growing concern right here at home: the struggle between wanting to preserve a small-town way of life against the growing need for urban development and expansion.
Directed by Karen Ancheta, from a script by Shelley Hoffman and Stephen Sparks, Buying the Farm stars John Enchano as Brad, a determined young real estate agent who will stop at nothing to convince life-long farmer Magnus, played by Ralph Small, to sell the farm that has been in his family for generations. Rounding out the cast is Carlyn Rhamey as Magnus’s niece Esme, who is taking refuge at the farm and is no fan of selling it.
Enchano brings manic energy to his role, portraying Brad as desperate to please his over-bearing father/boss while he begins to see more and more value in the rural lifestyle Magnus and Esme have carved out. Enchano gets many opportunities to showcase his command of physical comedy, inspiring fits of laughter throughout the show’s runtime and endearing himself to the audience.
As Magnus, Small takes an archetypal character and injects a bit of youthful prankster into the mix, revelling at the script’s many opportunities for Magnus to leave Brad dangling and clearly in over his head. Though the trope of ‘man refuses to sell his home to big developer’ has certainly been done many times over, Buying the Farm, and Small in particular, bring a special flavour to this time-worn tale that makes it more than worth experiencing.
Lastly, as Esme, Rhamey is absolutely magnetic. From the moment the character first graces the stage through to the play’s final moments, she brings a disarming authenticity that elevates the performances of the two men playing off her. Her chemistry with Brad is sincere, and through a handful of more dramatic moments, she imbues her character with a mix of wounded innocence and hard-headed stubbornness that pays off beautifully as the story progresses.
As for the show’s theme of progress threatening rural life, it’s easy to see why this show should resonate well with local audiences who are currently seeing such growth take place in their own backyards. It offers a gentle, warm reminder that although rural-minded people can sometimes have a hard time seeing eye-to-eye with ‘cidiots’ (the play’s colourful term for those unfamiliar with country living), we can indeed find ways to co-exist, and perhaps even flourish together.
If you’re looking for a great evening of entertainment, go ahead and put Buying the Farm on your radar – you won’t regret it!
Buying the Farm is the second show in Lighthouse Festival’s 2022 summer line-up. Following a successful run in Port Dover, the show opened this week at the Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne. Shows run until July 10.
For a full list of performances, visit
lighthousetheatre.com.
