Friday 24 July 2015

Don Harron's "Anne of Green Gables"

The longest running musical in Canadian history debuted on CBC in 1956.  It first appeared on the stage in 1965 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Canadians fell in love with it http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/anne-of-green-gables-the-musicaltrade-emc/.

Based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 classic book, the musical features a red-haired pig-tailed orphan named Anne who arrives in Prince Edward Island looking for a home.  Marilla and her brother Matthew have requested a boy to help them on the farm, but are shocked to find a girl at the train station.  Despite their wishes, Anne works her way into their hearts and they keep her.

She falls in love with their home, Green Gables, and their community, Avonlea.  Anne dreams of one day being a famous author and enters a writing contest sponsored by the Rollings Reliable Baking Powder Company for which she wins first prize.  As she daydreams, Gilbert watches her from afar, the boy who tugged on her pigtails on that first day of school, to which she responded by smashing a slate over his head.  Anne's relationship with the tender hearted Matthew is precious.

The musical features songs like "Humble Pie", "Wondrin" and "Ice Cream".  Anne of Green Gables appeared on the London stage in 1969 and Off Broadway in 1971.  It continues to appear on Canadian stages and has been performed every year since 1965.




Megan Follows plays Anne of Green Gables on CBC series circa 1985 courtesy http://www.laineygossip.com/Anne-Of-Green-Gables-musical-movie-confirmed/28005.


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