A full moon hangs bright in the sky. Black ash coats the snow. Caught in between, the burnt shell of a house stands empty.
Originally performed to sold-out theatres at the 2018 Edmonton Fringe Festival, The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 makes its return as Northern Light Theatre’s first performance of their 2021/2022 season, a season with a focus on destruction, renewal, and reinvention. The performance also marks NLT’s first production to take to the Varscona Theatre stage since 2010.
Written by Linda Wood Edwards and directed by Trevor Schmidt, The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 takes its inspiration from a real-life mystery: on December 26th, 1921, a house a mile and a half north of Big Valley, Alberta burnt to the ground, its two occupants forced out into the snow. With no investigation by police, the event was relegated to the archives—though rumours persisted that this blaze was no accident. Wood Edwards’ play fills in the gaps with a dramatic tale full of wit and intrigue, crackling with the chemistry between the two leads as they navigate an unexpected friendship.
Mrs. Hastings is the freewheeling madam of the local brothel, armed with a devil-may-care attitude and a talent for adapting to whatever life throws her way. Mrs. Smith is the churchgoing owner of a local boarding house, trying to juggle the expectations of society while navigating her own grief. Over the course of a year, the two very different women spark up a companionship, which buoys them through ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies… until one fateful night.
At the heart of the story are its two leads, performed by Sue Huff as Mrs. Hastings and Twilla MacLeod as Mrs. Smith. Their whip-smart banter and drastically different worldviews make for fascinating explorations of morality, conformity, and femininity. Above all, The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 is a story of survival in a world in which you have been placed at a disadvantage, and the ramifications of the choices that must be made.
The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 runs until Nov. 28, 2021 at Varscona Theatre. Tickets are available through Northern Light Theatre.
