 The classic Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud
Montgomery were transformed into a musical in the 1960s by Donald Harron and
Norman Campbell. The story begins when an orphan girl comes to the small
Canadian town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. She goes by the name of Anne
(with an ‘e’). She has red hair and freckles. And her singular personality is
about to shock the people of Avonlea.
Christian Youth Theater put on an excellent production at
the East County Performing Arts Center with the red-haired, freckled, and
immensely talented Kaitlyn Terrill in the title role. And she drives the
show with her energy and personality, bringing to life Anne Shirley with all
her charm, imagination, temper, flair for melodrama, and zest for life despite
so often being “in the depths of despair” and having to trudge through “a
graveyard of broken hopes.”
Her life in Avonlea almost never happens, as her adoptive
parents were expecting the adoption agency to send a boy. But the old,
gentle-hearted bachelor Matthew Cuthbert (Jon Smith) falls in love with
the girl almost immediately. Winning over his old maid sister Marilla Cuthbert
proves to be much more daunting, with Anne Slagill giving a most
impressive performance as the prim, prudish lady who initially reacts to Anne’s
outbursts with genuine surprise and disdain, then slowly comes to see beyond
her closed-minded views.
But can Anne be welcomed into the community of
Avonlea? She will be if her new best friend Diana (who has the same name as Anne’s
favorite heathen goddess) has anything to do about it, with Alli Faucher
delighting as the charming Diana – and as the amusing Diana when she drinks a
bit too much of the “raspberry cordial.” Gilbert Blythe (Tim Manns) also
likes Anne – much more than she likes him – and delivers a good performance and
vocals including his Wondrin’ solo. But the gossipy and jealous Josie
Pye isn’t helping, with Meagan Flint leading the terrific ensemble
number Did You Hear?. The strong ensemble also delivers a great number
to end Act One in the form of some Ice Cream – another amazing new
reason Anne of Green Gables finds to be alive regardless of the many depths of
despair and graveyards of broken hopes.
Performed February 9-18, 2007.
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
 Anne Shirley:
Kaitlyn Terrill
Matthew Cuthbert: Jon Smith
Marilla Cuthbert: Anne Slagill
Gilbert Blythe: Tim Manns
Diana Barry: Alli Faucher
Mrs. Lynde: Mollie Esau
Miss Stacy: Kaley Stine
Mr. Phillips: Jason Mull
Mrs. Blewett: Sara Wright
Josie Pye: Meagan Flint
The Minister: Patrick Gates
Station Master: Marshall Hattersley
Lucilla: Jenna Bailey
Mrs. Spencer: Emily Oswald
Mrs. Barry: Ashley McLaughlin
Mrs. Pye: Camille Kindschi
Mrs. Sloane: Giovanna Bolouki
Mrs. McPherson: Lindsey Davies
Young Ladies of Avonlea:
Prissy Andrews
Shannon Stovall
Ruby Gillis
Stephanie Barton
Tillie Boulter
Chelsea Wyrick
Gertie Pye
Kelli Plaisted
Young Men of Avonlea:
Charlie Stone
Kenny Ramos
Moody McPherson
Jeffrey Mull
Gerry Buote
Bobby Albright
Tommy Sloane
Sean Cabouchola
Malcolm Andrews
Brandon Lisama-Nguyen
Bluett Children/Townspeople:
Ashley Carter
Jamie Fortin
Jennie Melton
Dallas Perry
Caitlin Stanley
School Children:
Heather Armstrong
Hannah Elliott
Cara Filley
Emma Flint
Melissa Fox
Catherine Jones
Makenzie Manns
Ashley Melton
Stephen Moore
Mirian Phalan
Rachel Preddy
Danielle Sanchez
Dori Woodard
Townspeople:
Leslie Armstrong
Joanne Barber
Tori Dickerhoff
Jessica Faust
Holly Fletcher
Hayley Ford
Samantha Fortin
Taylor Gallagher
Austin Galloway
Patrick Gates
Sarah Gerhart
Samantha Goff
Melinda Ham
Madison Hendricks
Madeline James
Emily Jardel
Ryan Kaszycki
Anika Kenion
Andrew Morgan
Emily Oswald
Shannon Prendergast
Luree Scott
Christina Seberino
Ashleigh Snow
Sheridan Stanley
Alexis Sumner
Kristin Turner
Sara Wright
Director: Josh Elwell
Musical Director: Janie d'Avignon
Choreographer: Kim Messina
Assistant Director: Wendie Ward
Assistant Musical Director: Charlotte Cantelon
Costumer: Kristin Preddy
Lighting Design: Andrew Pomeroy
Sound Design: Larry Esau
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