They Can Fix Anything! 

Reviewed by Marilu Murphy

Dan Needles, a well known and award-winning Canadian playwright and author of the Wingfield Farm series, brings Ed’s Garage to life. The play, Ed’s Garage is now on stage at the Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia.

The set is successfully made to look like a backyard country garage. A small boat motor is clamped to a table out front and old tires on their rims lean up against the wooden walls of the small garage. There is a round wooden table to the left with folding lawn chairs laying on top.  A clothes line is tied from the garage to a pole with uniform shirts pegged to the clothes line. A message board is attached to the wall on the other side of the door. Country music is playing to set the mood.

Ed Hargreaves, played by Layne Coleman, is one special mechanic. He’s a retired farmer that not only fixes vehicles; he can fix the owners of those vehicles, as well.  Ed keeps everyone grounded in his garage, a knowledgeable and kind fellow who doesn’t necessarily follow the town’s rules. Nick, played by Mark Crawford, is a Township Bylaw Officer who quickly finds out that it’s better to join Ed as his misfit partner mechanic rather than shut down his business.  Nick tries desperately to keep Ed’s business afloat by using his quirky and harebrained managing techniques. The audience laughs at his humorous antics as he flips around the stage with his hands and arms, flying in the air. He’s trying urgently to help the cool, calm and collected Ed with his business ideas.

This small and quiet Ontario rural town has few thefts and crime. It attracts Cassandra, played by Colleen Furlan, from the big city to live here in this quaint town.  Cassandra is a high-strung psychotherapist that rents Ed’s cottage to use as her home and business. She soon pops her head over the gate at the garage and asks Ed and Nick if they’ve seen her 9:45 client. She of course has no idea that Ed has assessed her client, Peter, played by Mischa Aravena, and has already offered him skills for anger management. While Cassandra is searching for Peter, she has no idea that he’s with Nick in the garage checking the hole in the catalytic converter in his truck. Peter has no idea that Cassandra is the therapist that is supposed to help him.  This leads the audience into the plot of the comedy, with some hilarious and some more serious storylines.

Ed is the calm one and uses his common sense and unorthodox guidance to help heal his zany neighbours. The plot touches on some of the issues that farmers complain about and also features Ed’s “Big Bale Small Bale Theory” which very much makes sense by comparing the youth of years ago and today.

The play is a high energy comedy with a romantic component. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and the spark of energy among the characters enhanced by Ed’s calm demeanour. I felt though that the other three actors were sometimes a touch too hammy or melodramatic. I am really impressed with Layne Coleman as an actor. He definitely captured Ed’s character, bringing him to life. This is a play that I would love to see again, I know that I would enjoy it even more. It’s humorous, has a great storyline, and exceptional acting. The audience loved it as much as I did by giving them the best gift possible for their performance – a standing ovation.

Ed’s Garage is playing at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia from June 9 to June 26 at 2 PM. On June 26 there is a showing at 7:30 PM with a cabaret following the performance. You can order tickets online at thevpp.ca or call the Box Office at 1-800-717-7694 or 519-882-1221

Photo: Mischa Aravena, Mark Crawford, Layne Coleman and Colleen Furlan.  Photo by Diane O’Dell.

Ed’s Garage
From the author of the Wingfield Farm Series
By Author and Playwright Dan Needles
Performed by Layne Coleman, Mark Crawford, Colleen Furlan, Mischa Aravena.
Directed by David Hogan
Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia
June 9 to June 26, 2026
Reviewed by Marilu Murphy