Growing out of the mid-twentieth century Mennonite culture situated between Manitoba's Red River and the Pembina Hills, The Recipe is a comedy-drama featuring a plus-sized woman as romantic lead. The play wrestles with still-current issues of social class, body image, self-esteem, sexism, and a woman's reproductive options.
Let’s not bury the lede:The Recipe is among the best comedic plays Winnipeg has produced in years. . . It’s a thing of beauty — an exotic populist vernacular almost Shakespearean in its cadences — that, as with the Bard, is worth the occasional confusion it sows. — Winnipeg Free Press
Armin Wiebe! CONGRATS on THE RECIPE. Beautiful writing. A play that should be done across the land! —Vern Thiessen, playwright, Shakespeare’s Will; The Diviners
Audience Comments:
“Well-paced; transportive, absorbing performances; complex characters; great dialogue and diction decisions. A "choice" performance that manages modern issues with Prairie Gothic Menschheit.“
“What a powerful, realistic and loving portrayal of Mennonites. I am so grateful. It covers so many themes! Funny too. I shall never forget the final scene; Oata at the table in the red light. That was brilliantly unsettling.”
“We saw “Recipe” last night and loved it! We’ve been season ticket holders for years and have not seen the theatre this full in years. The audience was very responsive and appreciative. Congratulations.”
“It was funny yet had some depth to it. The place was packed. “
“The Recipe is theatre at its very very very best!!! Your script was absolutely incredible. So smart. Moving. Funny. Inspiring. It made me think. And it made me feel! If all theatre could be like this!”
“The whole thing was so well crafted. You covered a lot of bases--a chicken-slaughtering, mosquitoes, prairie sunsets behind the elevators, partylines, the old half-ton, a crooked lean-to, and a really fabulous fight!”
“We saw the play last weekend and it was a riot. I am so admiring of your ability to shine on the page and in the completely different medium of the stage. Perhaps it comes down to your undisputed skill with dialogue and character. "The Recipe" was a true Winnipeg delight. “
“Armin the play was wonderful once I overcame the largeness of the characters. I haven't been to a stage play for years. . . and certainly not while being among a sold-out audience vibrating such expectant and delighted energy!”
“I attended the penultimate (sold out!!) performance on Saturday. We both enjoyed it very much. I like the way Oata and Sadie bonded. The issues that they had both experienced as women were more important than the petty jealousies that they had before.”
“I also got to see The Recipe and absolutely loved it. I thought it was brilliant. I so appreciated the subject matter and the writing was amazing to listen to.“
“Great show! Watched it twice!”
For production inquiries please email: arminwiebe954@gmail.com
Watch for the published edition of The Recipe in Fall 2025!