Jerry Wilson has always planned to pass his family farm on to the next generation. When Jerry’s broken leg spurs him and his wife Marlene to retire sooner than expected, the couple moves to a new home in nearby Stony Valley and their son Greg comes home from the city to take over the farm. But Jerry and Marlene soon find out that retirement is not always as idyllic as it looks in the commercials… Marlene is not sure how to fill her days, and ends up working with her old enemy Norma to plan the upcoming Stony Valley Centennial Homecoming celebrations. And after a lifetime farming, Jerry has difficulty letting his son make the decisions. Tension builds between father and son until Greg finally hits the breaking point, and packs his bags. Now… Jerry is a proud and stubborn farmer whose land has been in the Wilson family for generations. He’s not about to admit to the community, his wife, or even himself that Greg won’t be taking over the farm after all. At first, lying to Marlene about Greg’s whereabouts just seemed easier than telling the truth. But one lie leads to another, and soon Jerry is driving through Stony Valley with a dummy dressed as Greg riding in his passenger seat…
News & Reviews
“Homecoming details one man’s retirement from the family farm, with a fair share of the humour that made Minogue’s last work a success. It’s the stories of friends, neighbours and relatives that tint her work a uniquely sky blue. Painting her friends and family into storylines–such as a character accidentally plowing the wrong field–is done out of love and to reflect the commonalities of smalltown living.” —Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
About the Author
Leeann Minogue‘s plays include Dry Streak, which was nominated for a Saskatchewan Book Award in 2006, and Homecoming. Leeann lives with her husband and son on a grain farm in southeast Saskatchewan.
