Anne & Gilbert

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Anne & Gilbert
Anne gilbert logo.png
Music
Lyrics
  • Jeff Hochhauser
  • Nancy White
  • Bob Johnston
Book
  • Jeff Hochhauser
  • Nancy White
  • Bob Johnston
Basis Anne of Avonlea and
Anne of the Island
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Productions

Anne & Gilbert is a musical based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's books Anne of Avonlea (1909) and Anne of the Island (1915), the second and third books in the Anne of Green Gables series. The musical is adapted by Jeff Hochhauser, Nancy White, and Bob Johnston.

Contents

Plot

The show closely follows the plot of the books, with only a few alterations and cuts for length. The first act is based on Anne of Avonlea, while the second act is based on Anne of the Island.

During the course of the first act, Gilbert Blythe gives up the position of Avonlea Schoolmaster for Anne Shirley, allowing her to stay close to home to care for her adoptive mother, Marilla Cuthbert. It is revealed that almost all of Avonlea knows that Gilbert is deeply in love with Anne, and she with him, although Anne will not admit it. In return for the kindness he has done her, Anne agrees to a wager with Gil; he will propose to her at some day of his choosing, and if she says no he will never ask again. After some time, Anne's best friend Diana Barry becomes engaged to her beau, Fred Wright and at the end of the first act, marries him. Gilbert takes advantage of his wager with Anne and proposes to her following the wedding, but she rejects him. He vows never to propose again. Through a series of fortuitous events, Anne is finally able to follow her dreams and go to Redmond University.

The second act opens with Anne of the Island, introducing several new friends for Anne. Meanwhile, Anne falls in love with a millionaire named Royal Gardner much to the dismay of Marilla and Diana back home in Avonlea. Although she toys with the idea of marrying Roy, she finally decides that she does not truly love him and rejects his proposal. Roy storms off and is not seen again. Gilbert, who is paying his way through University with odd jobs, happens to be working as a waiter at the restaurant where Anne and Roy are. He gives Anne an early birthday gift in the form of three letters her parents left behind before they died. As she reads the letters she begins to realize that she truly can love somebody, and finally finds the love she's had for Gilbert all along.

The show ends with Anne proposing to Gilbert back home in Avonlea for the summer, as the entire town and several friends from Redmond look on.

Performances

Anne & Gilbert opened in 2005 at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria–By-the-Sea, Prince Edward Island, directed and choreographed by Duncan MacIntosh. In 2006, the production moved to the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside, maintaining much of the original cast. The show continued to run at the Harbourfront each summer season until 2012, entering its seventh season with returning actors Amy Reitsma and Aaron Kyte in the title roles. The original production continues to run in Charlottetown, having moved to the Guild Theatre starting in 2013. A scaled-down production was staged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a limited cast performing songs from the musical. [1]

A second professional production at The Thousand Islands Playhouse in July–August 2007 was directed by Greg Wanless, music-directed by Sandy Thorburn, and choreographed by Kiri-Lyn Muir. A tour of Ontario took place in 2008.

The production played for the first time outside of Prince Edward Island and for the first time by an amateur troupe at Catholic Central High School in Lethbridge, Alberta in spring 2007. [2]

In December 2015, Anne and Gilbert was performed at Canada's National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Ellen Denny returned to her role as Anne Shirley, and Gilbert Blythe was played by Alex Furber. The production was very successful, being extended before even opening.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>Anne of Green Gables</i> 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Written for all ages, it has been considered a classic children's novel since the mid-20th century. Set in the late 19th century, the novel recounts the adventures of 11 year old orphan girl Anne Shirley sent by mistake to two middle-aged siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who had originally intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm in the fictional town of Avonlea in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The novel recounts how Anne makes her way through life with the Cuthberts, in school, and within the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Shirley</span> Fictional character Anne Cuthbert

Anne Shirley is a fictional character introduced in the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Shirley is featured throughout the classic book series, which revolve around her life and family in 19th and 20th-century Prince Edward Island.

<i>Rilla of Ingleside</i> 1921 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Rilla of Ingleside (1921) is the eighth of nine books in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, but was the sixth "Anne" novel in publication order. This book draws the focus back onto a single character, Anne and Gilbert's youngest daughter Bertha Marilla "Rilla" Blythe. It has a more serious tone, as it takes place during World War I and the three Blythe boys—Jem, Walter, and Shirley—along with Rilla's sweetheart Ken Ford, playmates Jerry Meredith and Carl Meredith—end up fighting in Europe with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Road to Avonlea is a Canadian television series first broadcast in Canada between January 7, 1990, and March 31, 1996, as part of the CBC Family Hour anthology series, and in the United States starting on March 5, 1990. It was created by Kevin Sullivan and produced by Sullivan Films in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Disney Channel, with additional funding from Telefilm Canada. It follows the adventures of Sara Stanley, a young girl sent to live with her relatives in early 20th-century eastern Canada. It was loosely adapted from novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery, with many characters and episodes inspired by her stories.

<i>Anne of Green Gables</i> (1985 film) 1985 film

Anne of Green Gables is a 1985 Canadian made-for-television drama film based on the 1908 novel of the same name by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, and is the first in a series of four films. The film stars Megan Follows in the title role of Anne Shirley and was produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It was released theatrically in Iran, Israel, Europe, and Japan.

<i>Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel</i> 1987 film

Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel, also known as Anne of Avonlea or Anne of Avonlea: The Continuing Story of Anne of Green Gables, is a 1987 Canadian television miniseries film and the second in a series of four films. A sequel to the 1985 miniseries Anne of Green Gables, it is based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's novels Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, and Anne of Windy Poplars.

<i>Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story</i> Canadian TV series or program

Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story is a 2000 miniseries television film, and the third installment in a series of four films. The film was highly anticipated among fans of Anne of Green Gables, and was the most controversial and heavily criticized of the three film adaptations written and produced by Kevin Sullivan.

<i>Anne of Avonlea</i> Book by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of Avonlea is a 1909 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.

<i>Anne of the Island</i> 1915 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of the Island is the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery about Anne Shirley. Anne of the Island is the third book of the eight-book sequels written by L. M. Montgomery, about Anne Shirley and her friends. In the book, Anne leaves Green Gables for the first time to go to Redmond College to get a bachelor of arts degree at the age of 18.

<i>Annes House of Dreams</i> Book by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne's House of Dreams is a novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. It was first published in 1917 by McClelland, Goodchild and Stewart.

<i>Anne of Windy Poplars</i> Book by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of Windy Poplars—published as Anne of Windy Willows in the UK, Australia, and Japan—is an epistolary novel by Canadian author L. M. Montgomery. First published in 1936 by McClelland and Stewart, it details Anne Shirley's experiences while serving as principal of a high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island over three years. A large portion of the novel is presented through letters Anne writes to her fiancé, Gilbert Blythe. Chronologically, the book is fourth in the series, but it was the seventh book written.

<i>Anne of Ingleside</i> Book by Lucy Maud Montgomery

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<i>Rainbow Valley</i> 1919 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Rainbow Valley (1919) is the seventh book in the chronology of the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, although it was the fifth book published. Whereas Anne Shirley was the main protagonist of the previous books, this novel focuses more on her six children and their interactions with the children of Anne's new neighbour, Presbyterian minister John Meredith. The work draws heavily on Montgomery's own life in the Leaskdale Manse, where she wrote a large number of books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilbert Blythe</span> Fictional character

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<i>Anne of Green Gables</i> (1919 film) 1919 film by William Desmond Taylor

Anne of Green Gables is a 1919 American silent comedy-drama film directed by William Desmond Taylor. The film was based upon the 1908 novel of the same name by Lucy Maud Montgomery. By 1999, all prints of the film were believed to have been lost.

<i>Anne of Green Gables</i> (1934 film) 1934 film by George Nicholls, Jr.

Anne of Green Gables is a 1934 American comedy drama film directed by George Nicholls, Jr., based upon the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Dawn O'Day, who portrayed the title character in the film, changed her stage name to Anne Shirley, which she was billed as for this and all subsequent roles. The film was a surprise hit, becoming one of four top-grossing films RKO made that year as noted in The R.K.O. Story, published by Arlington House.

<i>Anne of Green Gables</i> (1956 film) 1956 television film by Don Harron

Anne of Green Gables (1956) is a Canadian television film directed by Don Harron. The film was based upon the 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Anne of Green Gables is a 1972 made-for-television British mini-series directed by Joan Craft, based on the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

<i>Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series</i> Television series

Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series is a Canadian animated children's television series produced by Sullivan Entertainment and developed by writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan, based on the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Many supporting characters are sourced from Sullivan's television series Road to Avonlea, which is based on Montgomery's books The Story Girl and The Golden Road. One season of the series was produced, with 26 episodes, originally airing from 2001 to 2002. The series was developed for PBS member stations and was originally distributed by PBS from 2001 to 2005, then later by American Public Television from 2010-2015. It is the second animated series based on the Anne of Green Gables story. The first one is of the same name, produced by Nippon Animation in 1979.

Anne of Avonlea is a film made for television 6-part miniseries, developed in the United Kingdom by the BBC as a sequel to its 1972 Anne of Green Gables miniseries. It is based on Anne of Avonlea (1909) and Anne of the Island (1915), both sequels to the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This British version was directed by Joan Craft, with Kim Braden in the role of Anne. Both had previously worked on the 1972 adaptation of the preceding novel.

References

  1. Day, Jim (June 19, 2020). "New P.E.I. show will feature songs of Anne and Gilbert musical". The Guardian . Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  2. Koran, Carol. "Musical Theatre - Anne and Gilbert". Catholic Central High School. Retrieved February 6, 2019.