The long-awaited ballet Anne of Green Gables will be performed at the Mount Elizabeth Theatre on Sunday, February 23, at 8:00 p.m.
Presented by Canada’s Ballet Jörgen, the performance of this uniquely Canadian story is being hailed as “monumental” for the company, the first time a performance of Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet is being allowed to be performed as a full-length ballet.
Made possible through the assistance of the heirs of the original book Anne of Green Gables by author Lucy Maud Montgomery, the full-sized symphonic ballet score was created as an extended orchestration of the Anne of Green Gables – The Musical, made possible through a partnership with Avonlea Productions and Erinsharn Productions.
Synopsis
Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery (published as LM Montgomery). Written for all ages, it has been considered a children’s novel since the mid-twentieth century
Anne Shirley, a young orphan from the fictional community of Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia (based upon the real community of New London, Prince Edward Island), is sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, siblings in their fifties and sixties, after a childhood spent in strangers’ homes and orphanages.
Marilla and Matthew had originally decided to adopt a boy from the orphanage to help Matthew run their farm at Green Gables, which is set in the fictional town of Avonlea. Through a misunderstanding, the orphanage sends Anne instead.
Anne is highly imaginative, eager to please and, at times, quite a dramatic individual. However, she is defensive about her appearance, despising her red hair and pale, thin frame.
She is often quite talkative, especially when it comes to describing her fantasies and dreams.
At first, stern and sharp Marilla says Anne must return to the orphanage, but after much observation and considering, along with Matthew’s strong liking for Anne, she decides to let her stay.
As a child of imagination, Anne takes much joy in life and adapts quickly, thriving in the close-knit farming village.
Her imagination and talkativeness soon brighten up Green Gables.
The original choreography is by Bengt Jörgen, the music composed by Norman Campbell and the ballet score arranged by Russian-born Canadian composer Alexander Levkovich.
Tickets for Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet are available at Bradley’s Bait and Tackle, or at the door on the night of the event.
