She’s the most famous redhead to ever wash up on the shores of Prince Edward Island, or anywhere else for that matter.
Born from the imagination of author Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne (with an e) Shirley has been a beloved character since Montgomery’s first book in the series, Anne of Green Gables, was published in 1908.
Anne has not only appeared on the page, but in a one of Canada’s most successful TV mini series, in an animated children’s show, and also on the stage as a musical at the Charlottetown Festival.
And it’s the latter that is being celebrated this year. As Canada’s longest running musical, Anne of Green Gables has been singing for 50 years.
It’s the number one reason why theatre students at Vernon’s W.L. Seaton Secondary School have taken on the huge task of bringing the stage musical, written by Donald Harron with music by Norman Campbell, to life.
“I read the novel like all good Canadian girls and saw the musical in P.E.I.,” said Seaton drama teacher Lana O’Brien, who is directing the play with an all-student cast and crew at the school’s 27th Street Theatre.
The idea to stage the musical came some time ago, but the logistics were not exactly in place until now, said O’Brien.
This year’s musical also had to be pushed to January, rather than December, due to the teachers’ strike.
“We’ve had people over the years that said we should do the musical, but I was resistent because of the challenge staging it, mostly because of all the sets and our lack of a stage right… As our skills in the theatre have improved, I thought we can now do it and it doesn’t have to be über realistic,” said O’Brien.
As with any adaptation of a novel, it’s impossible to include everything in a staged version, however, the musical captures all those touching and imaginative moments from the book, and the tunes are instantly hum-able, said O’Brien.
“It’s why the show has successfully been running for so long,” she said.
Selling the musical to the students was another story, however. Although most of them had heard of Anne of Green Gables, many were reluctant to bring the musical to the stage as they thought it was too “old.”
“They wanted to do High School Musical,” said O’Brien, who balked at the idea.
“Now that we’re in it, they love it. They love the costumes, the music, and it is a touching story.”
The students are also learning Canadian history – with the book and musical set at the turn of the 20th century.
“(Anne) piggybacks on last year’s show (All Aboard), which was about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. I am big on Canadian content,” said O’Brien.
The story of a little orphan girl with bright, red hair, who is mistakenly brought to Avonlea by the elderly Matthew Cuthbert to live at Green Gables with him and his sister, Marilla, is one for the ages.
“She’s a different girl – modern for the time period – and is at first shunned, but she wins everyone’s heart by the end,” said O’Brien. “It’s also a classic love story.”
Where the book covers a four-year period, the musical is set over one year and shows the beginning of Anne and Gilbert Blythe’s relationship, one that starts quite at odds when Gilbert tugs on Anne’s braid and calls her “Carrots.”
Taking on the iconic role of Anne Shirley is Shaughnessy O’Brien, a natural ginger herself who appeared as another redheaded orphan in Powerhouse Theatre’s presentation of Annie in 2012.
And yes, the O’Briens are related.
“Every redhead at the school came to audition,” said Lana about why she cast her daughter in the lead role. “I usually hold closed auditions, where the students only have to perform for me and a few others, but because my daughter auditioned, I opened the rehearsal so everyone could all hear and see who was auditioning.
“Shaughnessy was right for the part and the kids know there’s no favoritism. In fact, I probably push my daughter even further… She just is Anne. She’s always been a precocious redhead and now she gets to be a precocious redhead on the stage.”
Taking on the other principal roles are Emanuel Kalinsky as Gilbert Blythe, Noah Angel as Marilla Cuthbert and Tayler Thomas as Matthew Cuthbert as well as Megan Lauridsen as nosy neighbour Rachel Lynde. Back serving as choreographer from last year’s musical is student Shelby Roehrig, who is also assistant director and appears in the play.
“I hadn’t read the full books but I saw the movie and at the beginning of the play, I Googled all the information I could find,” said Roehrig. “I wish we still had some of the things they had in those days. It’s so foreign to us now. The hardest part is making the steps interesting for non-dancers to do. The timing of the music is so strange to work with; some songs have four different time signatures.”
Learning to do a waltz or polka in an ankle-length skirt has also been a challenge.
Petticoats, knickerbockers and authentic straw boater hats (one on loan is more than a century old) are all part of the costuming, some of which has been created by retired drama teacher Linda Beaven of Summerland.
“She has been a mentor of mine since I started teaching,” said O’Brien, who has also been busy at the sewing machine. “It’s so exciting to see the kids all dressed up.”
Also coming from the community to help on the production is pianist Lora Bensmiller, who accompanies on all the musical numbers.
“It’s fantastic to have her on board,” said O’Brien.
Now for the bad news. Tickets for 27th Street Theatre Company’s production of Anne of Green Gables The Musical, opening Monday and running to Jan. 17, are all but sold out.
“When we stage Romeo and Juliet in the spring, I suggest you get your tickets early,” said O’Brien.
