Two travellers find themselves enmeshed in the lives of the quirky bar patrons in a small-town community when a blizzard closes all paths in and out. Is this inconvenience the best thing that ever happened to them?
Genre: Comedy
Acts: One
Time: 60 minutes.
Characters: 3 female, 2 male; or 2 female, 3 male
Setting: A small bar in a mountain town during a blizzard; locals go here, but not tourists.
Playwright Notes:
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. /lmwe
Some History:
This play received a dramaturgical consultation through the ACT ONE program at Alberta Playwrights’ Network (Trevor Rueger). The following actors participated in the first reading: Randy Brasoski (Bumble), Linda Grass (Korny), Sue Huff (Hermie), Andy Northrup (Rudy), Laura Raboud (Clarice); directed by David Cheoros. The play premiered at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in August 2019 directed by David Cheoros and featuring Francie Goodwin-Davies (Korny), James Hamilton (Rudy), Janelle Jorde (Clarice), Andy Northrup (Bumble), and Kevin Tokarsky (Hermie). It was an awesome run!
Royalties: Yes
Three Nights to Forever 2019
Linda Wood Edwards
9451 Ottewell Road
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6B 2E3
lue42@shaw.ca
Playwright Bio: Linda has been producing her plays since 2005. She is delighted that Northern Light Theatre did the first professional run of The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 in November 2021 (co-written w/David Cheoros for Edmonton Fringe 2018). Other plays include Three Nights to Forever (2020), Trail and Error (2016), Spring Alibi (Adelaide AU 2015; 2005, 2014; Washington DC 2006; Yukon 2007; Sask. 2012); Never Let the Crew See You Cry (2013+tour), Four in the Crib (2012, 2013, High River 2018), True Grid (2007, 2010), Support Ho’s (2009), Beans & Rice (2006, Sask. 2017), Gibberish v. Genius (Canmore, YEG 2018), and Almost the Pioneer Brewing Company (Canmore, YEG, Fort McMurray 2018). Linda’s plays have garnered sweet accolades including two Sterling nominations.
