May 2000
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Ashley Brash Shines as Anne of Green Gables NFLT musical wins over the entire communityby Jeff Green
After four months of rehearsals and at least a year of planning, the
cast and crew of the North Frontenac Little Theatre and Sharbot Lake
High School's coproduction of Anne of Green Gables had just completed
their second to last rehearsal on Monday, May 8th when a tired but
visibly relieved artistic director Inie Platenius walked up to the
stage and told her cast, "We have a Show!" Well, by Friday night, when
the first performance before the general public took place, they had a
great show.
From the opening scene, when the lights came on after the overture and
the entire cast sang the "Anne of Green Gables" theme with confidence
and joy, through to Marilla Cuthbert's final song to the empty chair
where her brother Matthew had died, and beyond, the production zipped
along with music, humour, and tears.
It was quite a task to get this play to run smoothly, so I will mention
the logistics first. There are 23 set changes, over 35 actors, and a
really small stage. The set, complete with a roof over Green Gables
that swung open to create a second story bedroom, was brilliantly
designed by Peter Platenius to make the most of the small space. The
stage crew dashed in and out between scenes to change the evocative
backdrops and props for the next scene.
As with any play, in the end it came down to the quality of the
performances, especially the principal trio of Matthew, Marilla, and
Anne. Matthew was played by John McDougall, who, after twenty years
involvement with the Little Theatre, often as musical director, was
making his first foray out under the lights. He certainly made the most
of it. He is immediately smitten by Anne, and this is written all over
his expressive face, and the relationship between the two attains an
intimacy that is then built upon as the play progresses. John McDougall
brought a great warmth to the role, capturing the hearts of the
audience.
Jennifer Bennet took on the challenging role of Marilla Cuthbert in her
first stage appearance. Marilla doesn't fall for Anne right away, and
the tension between the two sets up the final dramatic scene, when
Marilla's true feelings, already suspected by the audience, come
pouring out in her song for her brother. When she sings "I love her
just as much as you did", to Matthew's now empty chair, there was not a
dry eye in the house. Jennifer Bennet successfully brought out the
sternness, the exasperation, and the tenderness of Marilla Cuthbert.
Just because Marilla and Matthew were excellently played isn't enough
to ensure a successful performance of "Anne of Green Gables". After all
Anne is the center of the play. Ashley Brash carried the role of Anne
off with exuberance, strong singing, and considerable stage presence.
One of the reasons the character of Anne is such a Canadian icon is the
very uncanadian openness and unaffectedness of the character. Nothing
is hidden with Anne, what she is thinking she is saying whether she
should or not. Ashley Brash took this aspect of the role on and ran
with it. There was not a stumble throughout, every line was put forward
with ease, every song sung with conviction. The role demands an
energetic performance and Ms. Brash delivered. Bravo!
Dustin Riley did very well as Gilbert Blythe, carrying the confused
character through the play after his unfortunate reference to carrots
which he is never really allowed to live down. He keeps trying to turn
things around, despite all the forces that keep getting in his way. The
primary obstacle is Josie Pye, a mischievous and vain character, but
one who grows through the play. Ashley was extremely funny in the role
but still managed to make Josie sympathetic by the end of the play.
Diana Berry, played by Kristin Giller, is Annes' 'kindred spirit'.
Kristin Giller played her as an open and enthusiastic supporter of
Anne. She did this with gesture and expressions as much as words. Of
course her most memorable scene involved a bit of accidental wine,
which she tossed back with reckless abandon.
Lynda Boulter had to overcome a broken leg which left in her in a cast
throughout most of the rehearsals and all of the performances to play
Rachel Lynde, and she gave an inspired performance, giving an over the
top performance to hilarious effect.
Norman Guntensperger played the enraged teacher Mr. Phillips with a
zeal that makes one nervous about sending their children to his real
life classroom at Hinchinbrooke public school. Miss Stacey provides a
counterpoint to Mr. Phillips, and Cathy Elliott played her with a
luminous benevolence, despite a bout of laryngitis that must have made
singing more than a little painful.
Then there were the gossipy, vindictive ladies, played with relish by Pam Woods, Ann McDougall, Sheila Ritter, Lisa Fenwick , and Kathy Lowry McKinnon who gave a very funny performance as Mrs. Blewett. The men were played by Jim MacPherson, Tom Christenson, George Pearce, and Peter Platenius. They were as important for the colour and character they gave to each crowd scene as for what they said.. When the time came for them to deliver lines of dialogue or songs, they were all bang on the mark. The younger players, led by assistant director Louise Dignum and Heather Good as Prissie Andrews, included Kevin Melcher, Dylan McConkey, Arthur Cota, Douglass Allison, Kaitlin Balogh, Meghan Balogh, Briana Bowman, Alicia Cota, Steven Elliott, Chava Field-Green, Hannah Kent, Jack Kent, Annie McKinnon, Julia McKinnon, Brittany Ritchie, and Kelly Weatherby. Although they had few or no lines of dialogue, they all kept busy, giving the play richness and a texture.
Musical Director Gordon Sinclair put in long hours getting all the
singers and songs together. He also conducted a wily three piece
ensemble of Scott Milligan on piano, Gary Giller on the upright bass
and Carl Sole on drums and percussion, who kept things bouncing along
during set changes and gave the singers the support they needed.
"Anne of Green Gables" provided more than an evening of entertainment
to our community. It also provided an opportunity for children as young
as eight or nine to work as equals with seniors, drawing on all the
resources of the area, especially the numerous talented educators that
were involved in the production.
.
"Good theatre creates and strengthens community" says Inie Platenius in
the program notes, and I would add the it took a good community of
players, producers, carpenters, musicians, singers, sewers, painters,
etc., to make "Anne of Green Gables" such a success. In three sold out
performances, over eight hundred people enjoyed a memorable theatrical
experience.
