SPRING ALIBI
A Note from the Playwright - Linda Wood Edwards

No, Spring Alibi is not autobiographical (I knew you were wondering).

After the planets aligned in a painfully perfect way, I found myself heading to the Yukon in 1997 on a self-imposed sabbatical. While on a walk-about, I saw a poster for Nakai Theatre's 24-Hour Playwriting Competition. Only $35 to register and it included a hotel room and food! A 24-hour window to create something was right up my alley, and the thought of soaking in a bathtub was enticing beyond belief. I showed up with paper and pens, wearing a borrowed t-shirt (thanks Brian!) that said, "I feel like a Wanker," (a brand of beer). In 17 hours I had 2 baths, 1 shower, 2 meals, and a play that I wanted to set on fire. Weeks later, a friend (a barfly or politician, I can't recall which) heard that Nakai was looking for me. I reported in and was handed prize money. Like everything else that year, I didn't see that coming!

Nakai's AD Philip Adams worked with me on Spring Alibi for several months, but ultimately we both left the north. I missed a reading at the 1998 New Theatre North Festival, and although I wrote several more drafts, Spring Alibi did not see light again until 2004, when Nakai's Michael Clark advised me to join the Alberta Playwrights' Network. I had put off connecting with the theatre community until I was sure it would go somewhere (I had applied to the Fringe four times). Gerald's call telling me I was IN for 2005 kicked me into gear, but I never got anywhere without his help. Eventually he introduced me to David Cheoros. Over coffee, David asked what I wanted. "I want a talented team to bring out the best possible production of Spring Alibi, I want a Director who will not make it so horrible that I never want to write again, I want to learn about production, and I want to have fun." Deal. In days, the perfect people came together, including Gerald who had been trying to get away from me for months.

I am grateful to the passionate, generous, talented people who have surrounded this project and me - not just the Spring Alibi crew but people in all areas of my life. I've learned a ton. I'm still writing. I've had fun. I hope you do, too.