THUNDER BAY – ENTERTAINMENT – Magnus Theatre continues the 2019-19 Season with a brand new Canadian play.
BUYING THE FARM by Shelley Hoffman and Stephen Sparks is a romantic comedy in two acts about a young real estate agent who approaches a third generation farmer to buy up his farm for development. Things heat up when the young man meets the farmer’s feisty and smart niece, who is definitely against the urban sprawl that the land developer represents.
“This is a great new play, very funny, very gentle,” says Magnus Theatre Artistic Director Thom Currie. “What I love about BUYING THE FARM is that everyone in the story is likeable, and everyone in the audience knows someone like these people. It’s a lovely little story of family and tradition.”
Tristan Carlucci plays Brad Deacon, the young real estate agent. Carlucci is a well-known Winnipeg film and theatre actor and stunt performer who has appeared onstage across Manitoba. Olivia Ulrich plays Esme Fossen, the quick-tempered city girl turned farmer. A recent graduate of the University of Winnipeg and a very busy actor, Ulrich is making her Magnus Theatre debut in BUYING THE FARM. The cast is rounded out Sandy Winsby as Magnus Bjornsen, the crusty and lovable old farmer. Winsby, in addition to having appeared at Magnus Theatre numerous times over the years, has worked on stage across North America, from Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival to musicals on Broadway.
BUYING THE FARM is a new play by Shelley Hoffman and Stephen Sparks. Hoffman is an award-winning television writer and Stephen Sparks is one of the busiest actors in Canada. They created Buying The Farm based on Spark’s youth on his family farm. Fun fact: the couple met in 1998, working at Thunder Bay’s only professional theatre, and the character of Magnus is named in honour of this history. Hoffman will be reading from their new play at Magnus Theatre on Saturday, March 16 at 2:00 pm as part of Magnus’ MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT series. Admission for the play reading is free.
BUYING THE FARM runs at Magnus Theatre March 14-30, and is recommended for all ages. For tickets visit magnustheatre.com, call 807-345-5552 or visit the box office at the theatre. Evening Performances are Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 pm, with Matinee Performances Wednesday at 12 pm and Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm. PAY WHAT YOU CAN on Sunday, March 24th.
