Anne of Green Gables: the Musical. Heart-warming fun for the whole family

 

At the  1000 Island Playhouse, this production  of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical  is based on the novel that  holds an unparalleled place in Canadian literature.  It has  sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into numerous languages since its publication in 1908. This  musical adaptation,   running annually in Charlottetown, PEI since 1965,  has become the  longest running musical in Canada. The  book by Donald Harron and music by Norman Campbell, (as well as additional lyrics by Mavor Moore and Elaine Campbell) have  endured the test of time as we see in the  TIP’s production

. Under the tight direction and choreography of Stephanie Graham, Anne of Green Gables duly delights as a performance of song, dance and re-enactments of beloved characters. The amount of laughter and applause which I heard on opening night,  is a testament to the ongoing popularity of L.M. Montgomery’s story.

The show begins with the townspeople of Avonlea musing about the t Matthew Cuthbert’s trip to the train station. His sister Marilla reveals to the townspeople that  he is to pick up a boy who has just arrived from the orphanage to help them on the farm. When he comes to the station, however, he is greeted by a lively red-haired girl named Anne Shirley instead. The rest, of course, is history.

The cast collectively is very talented and gives life to the story onstage through their energetic and well-realized portrayals. Emily Robertson excels in the lead role as Anne, bringing characteristic enthusiasm and passion. Her projection is also wonderfully clear. Marilla Cuthbert is likewise strongly established as a character from the beginning by Marcia Tratt, who delivers the right amount of sternness to balance the carefree attitudes of Anne and her brother Matthew. While Larry Mannell  (Matthew) is initially quieter, his character gradually comes into his own as the show goes on. Other notable portrayals include Kelsey Verzotti as Anne’s friend and ‘kindred spirit’ Diana Barry, Conor Scully as her admirer Gilbert Blythe, Seanna Knudson as prissy rival Josie Pye, and Seana-Lee Wood as town gossip Rachel Lynde. The children’s chorus, made up of local students from the area, also give delightful performances.

Song numbers are consistently engaging, with Graham’s choreography and its deft enactment by the actors being the main feature of many (such as “Back to School Ballet” and “The Picnic”). The instrumental music which appears in both songs and regular moments of the show also adds a whimsical atmosphere to the town of Avonlea and is performed smoothly throughout; on this front, music director Chris Barillaro deserves credit. A vivid backdrop of PEI scenery, along with an abundance of wooden-cut trees, by set designer Sean Mulcahy makes for an appropriately romantic stage space.

While the performance values of this production are strong overall, I felt that the first act was a bit livelier and self-contained than the second one. This was likely owing to the relatively long run time of the show, which clocks in at around 3 hours (including an intermission). If one has young children, the show’s length would be something to take into consideration. Timing aside, TIP’s production of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical is an undeniably enjoyable one which largely captures the imaginative and free-wheeling spirit of the original story.

Anne of Green Gables: The Musical continues at the Springer Theatre in the 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, ON until July 20. For information and tickets, see http://www.1000islandsplayhouse.com/anne-of-green-gables/