Darling Alexis
User Story
By Aaron Langvand
"The Murder Mystery in Old Strathcona"
1984—the year, not the book.
I was photocopying a just-completed screenplay when I noticed a small poster on the bulletin board at the 109th Street College Copy Centre. I had to look twice as the poster was really nondescript, just black ink on yellow 8.5 x 11” paper . But it brought about a change in my life–professionally and even personally: just a little poster inviting the local arts community to participate in the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival.
Up to then, I'd been knocking about as a writer of screenplays with no interest from anyone– locally or beyond. There was a small film industry in Edmonton but it relied mostly on industrials (promos and vanity PR corporate films), contracts from ACCESS Alberta for mainly educational programming and the odd drama and co-production documentaries with the National Film Board. But I was focused on drama and having had no interest for my film scripts, I'd expanded into radio. The CBC had two weeknight drama programs to fill as well as serial dramas on Morningside. I'd also started writing stage plays but had found no Edmonton theatre interested in developing a play from yet another local writer.
Which is why I found the poster inviting participation in the Fringe Theatre Festival so intriguing. Brian Paisley had founded the festival a few years before, basing it on the Edinburgh Festival. With 65 shows at the previous Edmonton Fringe and still room for more at this year’s, I felt fairly confident of being accepted yet equally white-faced and sweaty palmed at the prospect of presenting my words and ideas in front of a paying audience. (If rankled, would they let fly rotten tomatoes at the playwright and actors?)
I wracked my brain for a story. Then I remembered having read about a walking tour sponsored by the Old Strathcona Foundation and hosted by an energetic university student, Jill Wright. At the time, I was developing a spy card game set in Morocco and thought of adapting it for a unique Fringe show. But the logistics proved overwhelming to meet the application deadline.
Still with the Morocco spy game in my head, I joined several others— mostly tourists—on Jill Wright's tour. As we walked along, Jill would introduce us to Strathcona's history and stories and the spy game transformed into a murder mystery— a walking whodunit.
Encountering the Old Strathcona Foundation's enthusiasm for the idea and Jill Wright's acceptance to be a part of the production goaded me into writing the script—lightning fast –and DARLING ALEXIS was ushered into the world still in need of corrections and rewrites but born whole with all imaginative appendages intact.
But as it was to be my first experience as a producer, I was stumped as to how to get the words from a page into the mouth of an actor and the ears of an audience.
That was my second, "I'm glad I live in Edmonton," moment. The theatre community and the whole community beyond were incredibly supportive in suggesting someone who'd then in turn suggest someone else. And that's how I found Tom Lynch, a health care administrator by day and theatre director by night. The process now took on its own momentum and all the roles in the large cast of 12 were soon fleshed out scooping up the future CKUA DJ Lark Clark to play the darling but very much hated actress, Alexis.
If it hadn't been for the establishment and enthusiasm of the Fringe, the open-minded attitude of the Old Strathcona Foundation and the embracing acceptance of Edmontonians supporting our city festivals with their wallets and as volunteers, I may never have written the 10 other Fringe scripts nor adapted the 1985 production of MOROCCO for the 5 episode drama serial, BURNT COLE on CBC Radio's Morningside.
Nor would many of the hundreds of other writers, actors and directors been given the opportunity to explore their talents and hone their craft in front of savvy audiences.
Edmonton is culturally rich with a vibrant arts community that continues to enrich this city, province and country with talent and skills developed right here.
The Edmonton International Fringe Festival started in 1982, making it the oldest and largest fringe festival in North America.
The man in the purple golf shirt is Julian Mayne, Executive Director of Fringe Theatre Adventures in Edmonton. Chris Craddock (black blazer and glasses) is an Edmonton-based actor/producer/writer who first participated in the Fringe Festival in 1992.
For a look at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival check out the video below.
