[REVIEW] Anne & Gilbert
Jan. 28th, 2014 02:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldI first heard of Anne & Gilbert in the national media, through a MacLean's report claiming that the Charlottetown Festival was upset that a rival Anne musical was performing literally just down the street. The Festival, operating out of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, has been running the musical Anne of Green Gables since 1964. It's not far wrong to say that the musical helps define modern Prince Edward Island's identity, and it's certainly correct to say that it helps sustain the economy. I was a bit dubious of this argument even before I saw the older musical being advertised on the back of the handout I received turning up at the newer on the last day of my August visit to Prince Edward Island, never mind when I saw the tickets being offered for sale at one of the adjacent Anne-themed stores. I really wanted to see this musical at least once, and I wasn't disappointed. As it turns out, Anne & Gilbert perfectly supplements Anne of Green Gables, being a worthy sequel to the musical beloved by millions.
Anne & Gilbert is a two-act musical adapting Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, the second and third books in the Anne series. Anne of Avonlea follows Anne and Gilbert as they teach school in neighbouring North Shore communities, while Anne of the Island chronicles their adventures on the mainland attending Redmond University (modeled on Halifax's Dalhousie). All the while the two are working through their complex relationship, as others do theirs and everyone, it seems, is waiting for Anne to acknowledge how she feels about her long-time rival and friend.
In 2013, Anne & Gilbert was staged in the theatrical space of The Guild, an old Royal Bank of Canada building in Charlottetown converted two decades ago to a community art space. Located at 115 Richmond Street, the Guild is in the middle of the downtown, perfectly placed to serve as the venue for the musical Anne and Gilbert.
The theatre space itself is long and narrow, the 144-seat tiered seating facing a shallow stage. Sitting in the front row, I was on the same level as the actors, just a few metres away. It's to the credit of the director and designer that they made this space work.
Anne & Gilbert is a well-written musical. Composed by Jeff Hochhauser, Nancy White, and Bob Johnston, it does a good job of adapting the source material, each novel getting its own act. I was pleased to see that Anne & Gilbert passes the Bechdel test, too, with Marilla Cuthbert and Rachel Lynde developing their relationship at length, even sharing the song "Our Duty". The music is quite good. YouTube has playlists, here and here; embedded below is a recording of "Gilbert Loves Anne of Green Gables".
(My favourite songs were the coy "Polishing Silver", "You're Island Through and Through", "A Jonah Day", "Seesaw Girl", and "Just When I'd Given Up Hope".)
The actors, too, were good. The above photo by Alanna Jankov (originally found at Arts East) shows a scene from the 2013 production of Anne & Gilbert at The Guild in Charlottetown, as Anne Shirley (played by Emily Denny) and Gilbert Blythe (played by Patrick Cook) converse. Denny and Cook are very convincing leads. Additional standouts for me were Morgan Wagner, who did a very good job with her role as wealthy debutante student Philippa Gordon, and Brieonna Locche, who made Anne's sometime-rival Josie Pye a very sympathetic character. (The Guild's website has more performance photos here.)
I definitely recommend Anne & Gilbert for theatre-goers on Prince Edward Island. The musical will be staged again this year at The Guild, tickets being available individually as well as offered as part of a package ($C57.97 per person including the musical as well as tickets to different Anne and Montgomery-related sites on the North Shore).
Anne & Gilbert is a two-act musical adapting Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, the second and third books in the Anne series. Anne of Avonlea follows Anne and Gilbert as they teach school in neighbouring North Shore communities, while Anne of the Island chronicles their adventures on the mainland attending Redmond University (modeled on Halifax's Dalhousie). All the while the two are working through their complex relationship, as others do theirs and everyone, it seems, is waiting for Anne to acknowledge how she feels about her long-time rival and friend.
In 2013, Anne & Gilbert was staged in the theatrical space of The Guild, an old Royal Bank of Canada building in Charlottetown converted two decades ago to a community art space. Located at 115 Richmond Street, the Guild is in the middle of the downtown, perfectly placed to serve as the venue for the musical Anne and Gilbert.
The theatre space itself is long and narrow, the 144-seat tiered seating facing a shallow stage. Sitting in the front row, I was on the same level as the actors, just a few metres away. It's to the credit of the director and designer that they made this space work.
Anne & Gilbert is a well-written musical. Composed by Jeff Hochhauser, Nancy White, and Bob Johnston, it does a good job of adapting the source material, each novel getting its own act. I was pleased to see that Anne & Gilbert passes the Bechdel test, too, with Marilla Cuthbert and Rachel Lynde developing their relationship at length, even sharing the song "Our Duty". The music is quite good. YouTube has playlists, here and here; embedded below is a recording of "Gilbert Loves Anne of Green Gables".
(My favourite songs were the coy "Polishing Silver", "You're Island Through and Through", "A Jonah Day", "Seesaw Girl", and "Just When I'd Given Up Hope".)
The actors, too, were good. The above photo by Alanna Jankov (originally found at Arts East) shows a scene from the 2013 production of Anne & Gilbert at The Guild in Charlottetown, as Anne Shirley (played by Emily Denny) and Gilbert Blythe (played by Patrick Cook) converse. Denny and Cook are very convincing leads. Additional standouts for me were Morgan Wagner, who did a very good job with her role as wealthy debutante student Philippa Gordon, and Brieonna Locche, who made Anne's sometime-rival Josie Pye a very sympathetic character. (The Guild's website has more performance photos here.)
I definitely recommend Anne & Gilbert for theatre-goers on Prince Edward Island. The musical will be staged again this year at The Guild, tickets being available individually as well as offered as part of a package ($C57.97 per person including the musical as well as tickets to different Anne and Montgomery-related sites on the North Shore).
