See Our Past Productions
Playography.
Three Nights To Forever
Synopsis.
A misfit comedy in which two travelers become enmeshed in a small-town when a blizzard closes all paths in and out. Death, secrets, craft beer, a bonspiel, and intermittent internet loom large. When the roads finally re-open, what will have changed for each of them?
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Inspiration.
I’ve long been intrigued by the Island of Misfit Toys from the TV’s “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (1964: Romeo Muller; Dir. Larry Roemer; Rankin/Bass). Yes, the toys are different, but what’s really wrong with them? A train with square wheels might seem obvious, but you have to dig to learn Dolly’s on the Island because she’s depressed; Charlie just has an unusual name for his job. It makes me wonder whether inclusion in the mainstream by well-meaning outsiders is the right answer for the Toys, or whether they’re better off (more whole) on their Island. While experts argue each side, I drift between extremes. Fast forward to 2013 when I was feeling more like Dolly than myself. My generous friend Liz lent me her wee cabin in the magical Blaeberry outside Golden BC, kicking off a transformative and inspirational adventure. When I finally descended from the bench to visit the townsite, I was drawn to a dark bar with no visible name/hours and an array of kind, funny, quirky people. I exhaled. And it felt amazing. While the regulars might not welcome the Toy comparison, I make it with affection and appreciation. The place remains important to me, so my adventure continues. Rudolph can keep the mainstream: I’m more comfortable with the Misfit Toys whose stories are much more like my own.
The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921
Synopsis.
Big Valley, Alberta. An enterprising madame establishes a brothel, leading to conflict and unexpected friendship with a town matron. Tension turns to crisis when the brothel is burned down. This true story is re-imagined with wit, sarcasm, and really good wigs. Also produced by Northern Light Theatre (2021) and the Fierce Women of Alberta Festival (2023).
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A historical drama laced with humour and heart by Linda Wood Edwards.
Inspiration.
From the December 29, 1921 Big Valley News — Big Blaze near Big Valley — A house occupied and owned by a woman named Hastings who was living a mile and a half north of town was totally destroyed by fire at 4:30am on Monday morning. The cause of the fire is unknown. The occupants had a very narrow escape, as when they awoke the house was full of smoke and fire. Nothing was saved and the loss is estimated at $4,000. [about $50,000 in contemporary funds]. The Hastings woman and another person who was staying with her had to walk into town clad only in night attire with blankets over them, and had a terrible time from cold and exposure. The police are investigating the affair.
But there was no investigation, no charges laid. Hastings disappears from annals of Big Valley, Alberta. A story passed down in local histories, of a group of townswomen who banded together to defend their families by burning the brothel to the ground. But we found no records linking the action to any specific women. So we made this up. MAA & PAA Theatre dives into this seamy, darkly funny story, pushed to the fringes of mainstream history. Moving beyond the stereotypes, we look at the uneasy intertwining of prostitution and “proper” society, and the ways that women support and sabotage each other. This historical drama is laced with humour and heart.
Almost the Pioneer Brewing Company
Synopsis.
Family drama is on tap as the town gathers to witness Tina break ground for her new business. But a microbrewery doesn’t fit into the plans of Tina’s 104 year old grandmother who invokes her status as former President of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and unearths some long held family secrets. The laughs flow and the surprises come to a head in this little piece.
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A 10-Minute Comedy by Linda Wood Edwards.
Inspiration.
Linda was struggling with a key plot point in a one-act play she is working on and decided to enroll in the Citadel’s 10-minute playwriting course to see if she could find her way through it. Instead, her late grandmother, Sybella McCallum Wood – a formidable woman, materialized in the small mountain town and hijacked the story. This is the result.
History.
Stage Struck! ADFA One-Act Play Festival.
Showed at: Edmonton
Date: April 06-07, 2018
Theatre Canmore 10-Minute Play Festivus – Theatre for the Rest of Us.
Showed at: Canmore
Date: March 16-18, 2018
Citadel Theatre School 10-Minute Play Festival (Staged Reading).
Showed at: Citadel Theatre
Date: March 19, 2017
Directed by: Tracy Carroll and Conni Massing
Genius V. Gibberish
Synopsis.
The CEO of a successful company is sent to the corporate psychologist for her unusual approach to business.
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A 10-Minute Comedy by Linda Wood Edwards.
History.
Theatre Canmore 10-Minute Play Festivus – Theatre for the Rest of Us
Canmore, March 16-18, 2018
Linda’s two plays were held on the evening of Saturday March 17, the afternoon of Sunday March 18, and the evening of Sunday March 18, 2018.
Stage Struck! ADFA One-Act Play Festival
Edmonton, April 06-07, 2018
Linda’s two plays were held on the evening of Saturday April 07, 2018.
Trail and Error
Synopsis.
After a horrible year Linda challenges herself to do something even worse: the Chilkoot Trail. In bear and avalanche season. In borrowed boots. A century after the Klondike Gold Rush, we still hope for a better life at the end of the Trail. An almost true story.
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A Play by Linda Wood Edwards.
Award Nominations.
TRAIL AND ERROR received Sterling Award Nominations: Best New Fringe Work (for Playwright) and Best Fringe Performance (for Ellen Chorley).
Inspiration.
1996 was a monumentally bad year for Linda, so in 1997 she headed to the Yukon for a few months to satisfy her curiosity about the north and the Klondike Gold Rush. One key objective was to hike the historic Chilkoot Trail, a 55km 5-day hike through various ecosystems and terrains. This play is about the perils and pearls Linda found on that journey, some of which still play out in her life today.
History.
Fringe 2016.
Showed at: Edmonton, AB Fringe Festival
Date: 2016
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Ellen Chorley
SkirtsAfire Festival 2016.
A tease of four new plays, including Linda’s ‘Trail and Error’, at PeepShow.
Location: The Nina Haggerty Gallery
Date: March 13 | 3pm – 4pm |
An excerpt was read by: April Banigan as “Linda”
Directed by: Tracy Carroll
Never Let the Crew See You Cry
Synopsis.
The story of Alberta’s own “Bomb Girls” comes to life. In WW2, women became mechanics at Air Training Schools all over Canada. Ethel Wood chases dreams of being a pilot while finding friendship and romance in this (almost) all true story.
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An (Almost) True Story by Linda Wood Edwards..
Inspiration.
Never Let the Crew See You Cry focuses on the stories of Ethel Wood, mother of playwright Linda Wood Edwards. Ethel lied about her age to get a job as a Flight Line Mechanic, and proved a natural at both the technical elements of the job and the psychological minefield of dealing with terrified student pilots from a hundred different cultures. Building on her mother’s outrageous tales, Wood Edwards has crafted vivid portraits of friendship, romance, and an emerging sense of what roles women can take on in a post-war society.
Learn more about Ethel Wood and her story, here.
“To A War Ace”.
“You had a job to do – you did it well.
We were all as proud as you when you came home sporting your medals on your chest.
I had a job to do – I did it well.
I never received any medals, but I could handle screw-drivers and wrenches with the best of them.
Aren’t you glad I did?”
-Ethel Wood (excerpt from her poem)
The Buzz.
“Gives the audience an informative look at the life of an amazing woman and an important time in Canadian history.” –EDMONTON JOURNAL
“A charming and light romp through an era that made heroes of ordinary men and women, and celebrates the tales of those behind the scenes who were just as dedicated to fighting the good fight as those on the front lines.” –EDMONTON JOURNAL
“The story has historical value and there is no denying the pluck of these pioneering women.” –GLOBAL
“The dialogue was wonderfully written, with plenty of laughs and plenty of singing along from the audience.” –RETRO REPORTER
“The talented crew of three showed their full range as each masterfully switched from one role to the next to create a rich scene with a well-rounded cast of wartime characters.” –EDMONTON SUN
History.
Edmonton and Vermilion 2016.
Showed at: Edmonton and Vermilion
Date: November, 2016
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Laura Raboud; Alex D. Mackie; Judy McFerran
Toured 2015.
Showed at: All over Alberta
Date: January/February, 2015
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Laura Raboud; Alex D. Mackie; Judy McFerran
Fringe 2013.
Showed at: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Date: August 17-25, 2013
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Laura Raboud; Alex D. Mackie; Judy McFerran
Spring Alibi
Synopsis.
Spring in the Yukon! The perfect setting for a romantic comedy about self-discovery, voyeurism, and the 8-track tape. Spring Alibi is the story of two prairie people heading north to build new lives for themselves. When Marlene’s journey of intimate self-discovery collides with Mac’s workday, the fun begins. Spring Alibi has brought guilty smiles, and full frontal laughter, to audiences around the world.
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A Comedy by Linda Wood Edwards.
Inspiration.
Playwright Linda Wood Edwards wrote Spring Alibi in 1997 while on sabbatical in the Yukon. It won a prize in Nakai Theatre’s 24 Hour Playwriting Contest, which was a bonus: she entered because they promised a hotel room with a hot bath for only $35. The play premiered at the Edmonton Fringe in 2005 and since then has been a crowd favourite with sold out houses and a few nominations and awards.
The Buzz.
“A small, well observed comic gem about two souls adrift in the Yukon… riotously entertaining but with a beating heart at the centre” – Edmonton Sun
“Buy tickets for this totally sweet, totally honest romantic comedy with a twist before word gets out” – SEE Magazine
“Funny, sweet, surprising and saucy. A delightful romp into the wilderness of Northern Canada and relationships” – Patti S., Talkfringe Reviews
“A clever, funny, but thought provoking script, and excellent performances from the cast of two, made Spring Alibi a thoroughly entertaining and engaging show. Highly recommended!” – Kirsten R.; Talkfringe Reviews
History.
Adelaide Fringe Australia 2015.
Showed at: Adelaide Fringe, Bakehouse Theatre
Date: March 5-14, 2015
Directed by: Kevin Tokarsky
Co-Produced by: David Cheoros
Starred: Sue Huff as “Marlene”; Andy Northrup as “Mac”
TheatreONE Festival 2012.
Showed at: Kerrobert, Saskatchewan
Date: November, 2012
Directed by: Shauna Meek
Starred: Jill Radwansky as “Marlene”; Lynn Wagner as “Mac”
Awards: Best Show, Best Actor, Best Director PLUS the best review…”I loved your show! It could never play in Yorkton.”
Yukon Comedy Arts Festival 2007.
Showed at: Yukon Comedy Arts Festival
Date: January, 2007
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Sue Huff as “Marlene”; Andy Northrup as “Mac”
Capital Fringe Festival 2006.
Showed at: Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC
Date: July, 2006
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Michele Brown as “Marlene”; Andy Northrup as “Mac”
Dramaturge: Gerald Osborn
Fringe 2005.
Showed at: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Date: August, 2005
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Sue Huff as “Marlene”; Andy Northrup as “Mac”
Dramaturge: Gerald Osborn
Awards: Playwright nominated for an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best New Fringe Work
New Theatre North Festival 1997.
Showed at: Westmark Hotel, Whitehorse, Yukon
Date: 1997
Directed by: Philip Adams
Locovore
Synopsis.
Having received word that a vicious local critic is coming to review them, the staff of the Locovore restaurant desperately try to put aside their own personal conflicts and differing agendas to survive the inspection. LOCOVORE is a classic farce in which the local food movement, the restaurant industry, and the essence of literary criticism get tossed into an industrial fan of broad comedy.
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A Play by David Cheoros and Linda Wood Edwards.
SCRIPT SALON (co-sponsored by the Playwrights Guild of Canada, Alberta Playwrights Network, and Holy Trinity Anglican Church) produced a staged reading of LOCOVORE in January 2016.
Four in the Crib
Synopsis.
Interweaves the lives of four eighty-somethings in an assisted living facility, shared over a series of weekly cribbage games.
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A Comedy by Linda Wood Edwards.
Inspiration.
Playwright Linda Wood Edwards comes by her understanding of the subject matter honestly. While helping her mother Ethel Wood settle into such a facility here in Edmonton, Wood Edwards started to observe the struggles and routines of life there. We are accustomed to thinking of life in such places as either dreary or dull, but Wood Edwards found the residents – joyful or depressed, passive or fiercely fighting for every scrap of independence – made for compelling stories.
The Buzz.
“Four in the Crib is time well spent” — Global TV
“With the witty and original dialogue provided by Linda Wood Edwards script, the play is ultimately light-hearted and definitely laugh out loud” – Vue Weekly
“If there’s a comic nugget to be mined at an assisted living facility expect writer Linda Wood Edwards to find it here” — Edmonton Journal
History.
Edmonton Seniors’ Week 2013.
Showed at: Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Date: June 4-9, 2013
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Linda Cornell as “Agnes”; Judy McFerran as “Bernice”; Kieran O’Callaghan as “Earl”; Jan Streader as “Constance”.
Fringe 2012.
Showed at: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Date: August 17-26, 2012
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Linda Cornell as “Agnes”; Judy McFerran as “Bernice”; Kieran O’Callaghan as “Earl”; Jan Streader as “Constance”.
StageStruck! One Act Festival 2012.
Showed at: Walterdale Theatre
Date: February, 2012
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Linda Cornell as “Agnes”; Judy McFerran as “Bernice”; Kieran O’Callaghan as “Earl”; Jan Streader as “Constance”.
True Grid
Synopsis.
4 guys x 20 football seasons = 80 years of bonding, rituals, and winning. Subtract 1 guy, add a lovely stranger, and risk breaking the streak.
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A Comedy by Linda Wood Edwards.
Inspiration.
True Grid focuses on the passion that unfolds in the stands during a football season and combines Linda’s experiences with loving football (to a religious extent) with the fans she has met by traveling to every stadium. Sports fans are faithful and many situations that arise over a season test that faith. But no matter how disillusioned people get, true fans always find their way back. That is what True Grid is about. While it could be set in any stadium at any time, these productions of True Grid were set in 2006 – the ill-fated season in which the Edmonton Eskimos missed the playoffs for the first time in 34-years (a professional sports play-off record). It was bloody devastating.
The Buzz.
“Edwards’ script features jokes so polished and witty it begs to become a pilot for a television sitcom… Broad humour matched with Eskimo in-jokes makes True Grid a true touchdown.” -Edmonton Sun
“A laugh a minute. If you are a football fan, this is a must see. If you are not a football fan, you will love it anyways.” – Global TV
“Funny and oddly poignant… script is beautifully turned out… actors all possess a fine-tuned sense of comic timing.” -Edmonton Journal
“This is a true, genuine piece of comedy that anyone with the lifeblood of green and gold, copper and blue, or whatever combination, will relate to.” –Vue Weekly
“Crisp, entertaining play well-acted… slickly directed… Well worth a look, even if you hate football and would rather hibernate until the Grey Cup is over with.” -SEE Magazine
History.
Edmonton Grey Cup Festival 2010.
Showed at: Stanley A Milner Library Theatre
Date: November 24-26, 2010
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Sue Huff as “Mary”; Stewart Burdett as “James”; Andy Northrup as “Thomas”; Kevin Tokarsky as “Coach”
With the Voice of: Bryan Hall
Fringe 2007.
Showed at: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Date: August 16-26, 2007
Directed by: David Cheoros
Starred: Sue Huff as “Mary”; Stewart Burdett as “James”; Andy Northrup as “Thomas”; Kevin Tokarsky as “Coach”
With the Voice of: Bryan Hall
Support Ho’s
Synopsis.
Four women use their weekly breakfast gathering as the anchor to friendship and saner times. When the sanctity of their Friday foursome is threatened, they and their waiter kick into high gear to rediscover and hold onto what is precious.
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A Comedy by Linda Wood Edwards.
What happens when those closest to you, those who’ve seen the highs and the lows with you, those who can get away with telling you exactly how it is, suddenly have other priorities? Change, of course (and it isn’t always pretty). Three women, laden with and buoyed by their life experiences, deal with the loss of their touchstone pal and the stability of their tried and true foursome. Fortunately, the waiter who has delivered their “usual” breakfast every week for the last 12 years has some surprises and sage advice to serve up along with the best coffee in the city. Join the fun as hanging in, hanging on, and holding it in take on a whole new reality for these friends. Feel the lift and confidence that only a decent set of Support Ho’s can provide.
Inspiration.
For years, Linda and her three “Twisted Sisters” met for Friday breakfast at the famous Sidetrack Cafe alongside most of Edmonton’s who’s who. The same breakfast, the same server, the same customers week after week for years. Then we find out the Sidetrack – also the best live music venue in town – is scheduled to be torn down to make way for condo development. Not only that, one “Sister” moved out of town. The challenge we experienced, along with the other “regulars” was deep and heartfelt. It seemed important to tell the story.
The Buzz.
“Linda Wood Edwards is a very funny writer, of the species Nora Ephron, with a sharp ear for the way real people talk.” – Liz Nichols, Edmonton Journal
“What gives this comedy a certain luster, and sets it apart, is, first, the quality of intricate texture of Wood Edwards’ comic writing.” – Liz Nichols, Edmonton Journal
“Wood Edwards is an inventive writer who has given us an hour that zips along with wit.” -Colin McLean, Edmonton Sun
“The cast is outstanding and the writing delicious. An hour of pure entertainment.” – Judy Unwin, Global TV
History.
Fringe 2009.
Showed at: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Date: August 13 – 23, 2009
Directed by: Eileen Sproule
Starred: Linda Grass as “Nancy”; Tanya Lawrence as “Opal”; Andy Northrup as “Lewis”; Rebecca Starr as “Paula”
Beans and Rice
Synopsis.
A comedy for a younger crowd. This is a play about imagination, friendship, and understanding (and lice).
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A Comedy for Young People by Linda Wood Edwards.
What’s going on behind that curtain and why is the school nurse wearing rubber gloves? All the students know is that they’re being unceremoniously rounded up and herded like cattle into the gym. Sure, most of the students get to return to class, but what about those ones being taken out the side door crying? What will be the fate of our group? This is a play for young actors and young audiences about imagination, friendship, and understanding. And lice.
Inspiration.
Linda was approached by drama teacher (and awesome actor/director) Kevin Tokarsky to write something contemporary for his Woodhaven Junior High drama class to enter into a Regional One Act Festival. Shame is something that is tough for everyone, but especially adolescents. Linda believes the best way to deal with shame is to put things out in the open and hopefully have a laugh about them. The family dynamic had completely changed for many children and also, around this time, many schools were facing lice infestations. When Linda found out her cousin was a volunteer “Lice Inspector” at her kids’ school, well, how could she not write about that?”
History.
Regional One Act Festival 2017.
Showed at: Grand Theatre Indian Head Saskatchewan
Date: March, 2017
Starred: An amazing group of young people playing “Aaron”, “Stephen”, “Megan, “Carlos”, “Trina”, and Ms. Carmax.”
Regional One Act Festival 2017.
Showed at: High School in Milestone, SK
Date: March, 2017
Starred: An amazing group of young people playing “Aaron”, “Stephen”, “Megan, “Carlos”, “Trina”, and Ms. Carmax.”
Regional One Act Festival 2006.
Showed at: Horizon Stage, Spruce Grove
Date: March, 2006
Directed by: Kevin Tokarsky
Starred: An amazing group of young people playing “Aaron”, “Stephen”, “Megan, “Carlos”, “Trina”, and Ms. Carmax.”
Awards: Best Actor to the boy who played “Stephen”
Society of the Oddly Disappeared
The SOD is a secret society of people who may or may not have died. Their task? To help public figures tired of it all to disappear, usually through a fake death.
Synopsis.
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A 10-Minute Comedy for Young People by Linda Wood Edwards.
The SOD is a secret society of people who may or may not have died. Their task? To help public figures tired of it all to disappear, usually through a fake death. Set in a board room, the society is holding a special meeting to review applications for new members.
History.
StageStruck! One Act Festival 2011 (Staged reading, not adjudicated).
Showed at: Walterdale Theatre
Date: February, 2011
Directed by: Tiana Leonti
Music by: Russ Hewitt
Starred: Bradley McInenly as “Jim Morrison”; Andy Northrup as “Dale Earnhart, Sr”; Gerald Osborn as “Elvis Presley”; Lindsey Walker as “Diana, Princess of Wales”; Dale Wilson as “Harry Houdini”.
Photos by: Russ Hewitt
Walk of Shame
Synopsis.
How long must one pay for a bad night and a bad decision? Part of the 2023 EdmonTEN Festival by Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre.
I, Diana
Synopsis.
Goddess Diana (or is she?) is stuck on the prairies, but she has no trouble bedding and wedding handsome men who resemble celebrities. Ignoring conventions for women and goddesses, Diana forges her path according to the narcissist’s code and, because IT’S ALL ABOUT HER, casualties ensue. Inspired by real life prairie events.
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By Linda Wood Edwards.
Starring Sue Huff and Kevin Tokarsky
Director Linda Wood Edwards
Photographer Axel Torres
Buzz.
“…Light as air fun…Sometimes it’s refreshing to have validation of your worst instincts, and this is the comedy to tease you with that prospect.” – 12th Night