"Anne and
Gilbert, The Muscial" is the story of Anne and Gilbert's romance and is
based upon L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island.
The musical, by Bob
Johnston,
Nancy
White
and Jeff Hochhauser explores the adult
romance between Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. It made its world premiere
July 29, 2005.
In 2008, Anne and Gilbert will be on stage from June 24 – September 28,
2008 at the Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre in Summerside, PEI. Anne and Gilbert
will . Additionally,
between October and November, an Anne and Gilbert tour starring Ashleigh Ireland
and Adrian Marchuk will travel through Ontario starting in Kingston, and visiting
Huntsville, Lindsay, Oakville, Guelph, Bramptom, Barrie, and then ending the
tour in Ottawa.
Check the "Anne
and Gilbert" blog for
updated news and information about the muscial, post on the "Anne
and Gilbert" Message Board, download "Anne
and Gilbert" wallpapers or a printable Anne
and Gilbert poster
to decorate. Also, the Cast
Recording of "Anne and Gilbert" is
on sale.
My Review of Anne and Gilbert
On July 12, 2006, I watched Anne and Gilbert at Summerside, P.E.I.,
at the opening night of its second season. I had been reading about the musical
since 2003 when I read a Playbill article about early workshops for
it in NYC. Last spring, I became more and more interested in the musical
through my online
correspondence
with
the musical's producer, Campbell Webster. He sent me an early reading of the
show from a workshop by the Confederation Centre of the Arts in 2004.
When I heard Anne and Gilbert, I knew I had to see it one day, and
sweetly enough, I had the chance to see this romantic tale on stage on
the next to last night of my honeymoon with my husband. From the beginning,
I was thoroughly impressed with what I had heard, and I am confident the musical
will have a long life and huge
audience in
the years
to come. The storyline, characterization, music, and lyrics
were all fantastic. The
musical
has
humor, romance,
a touch of sadness,
and it stays true to the feeling of Anne's story. The script includes scenes
from Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island,
and while keeping the idyllic feel of Avonlea, mixed in is a modernity and
wit that keeps Anne current and enjoyable to her fans today.
The acting and characterizations were outstanding. Diana Barry (Sarah Sheps)
and Philppa Gordon (Natalie Sullivan) brought in the laughs and were clear
audience favorites. Josie
Pye (Heidi Ford), rather than just a being a villain, was Anne's
counter, her rival and even
her friend. Instead of being two-dimensional, Josie was a complex woman. Paul
Irving was innocent and friendly, a far-cry from the irritating, unappealing,
unrealistic
boy
in
Montgomery's
Anne of
Avonlea. His
introduction to P.E.I. with the song "You're Island Through and Through" was
like that of any newcomer learning and trying to fit in. Additionally, the
song serves
well to locate the story on Prince Edward Island. Roy Gardiner was a smooth,
ideal man, who sweeps Anne off her feet. While Diana and Marilla (and the rest
of Avonlea) know that Anne is making the wrong decision, she has no idea
her mental ideal
is so
unrealistic and wrong. You can't help but have sympathy for Roy. Marilla
was a kind and mellowed women, who seems to have lost her old sarcasm and humor.
Her friendship
with
Rachel and their song together about duty to one another derives directly
from lines in Anne
of Avonlea.
Most of all, I loved how Gilbert was everywhere. Having eight jobs sure helped!
In L.M. Montgomery's works, Gilbert is often an absent and imagined figure,
since
she
leaves the male characters out and shies away from
romance. Here, instead of focusing solely on Anne, Peter Dewick's Gilbert
had more dimensions and was a central figure. His "Saturday
Morning" song was humorous and showed his work ethic and
his challenges with Josie, and "Hothouse Flower," which
was directed at Anne, was amusing and stems from a line in Anne
of the Island. Not only is he an intelligent and devoted man, but
Gilbert has humor, a
temper,
is
hard
working
and charming.
In
a change from the novel, Gilbert is the one to give Anne her parents' letters,
which was the impetus for
her
re-evaluation
and
change. Gilbert's devotion to Anne was clear, just as in the books, but
in this musical he
was much more interesting. As an audience member, I could feel his
presence and influence. All
of the
variations of the "Mr. Blythe" song throughout are wonderful,
and I think that many audience members will feel the song is singing (and
sighing)
for them too.
Anne, played by Melanie LeBlanc, develops well as a character through the
story. Rather than acting upon other characters, as in Anne of Green
Gables,
Anne is acted upon by other characters who know her fate before she realizes
it. Her friendship with Diana was strong, and her shock at Diana's engagement
was both
funny
and
appropriate. Her excitement at the prospect
of college, embarrassment over her Rolling's Reliable publication, confusion
about her feelings for Gilbert and Roy, all come across well in the songs.
Her "Someone Handed Me the Moon" is a sweet song which stems directly
from a line
in Anne of Avonlea. When she reads/sings her parents'
letters, I felt it was the most emotionally laden
moment of the show. It got to the heart of her character and was
very well done.
The songs were wonderfully catchy. The writers, Jeff Hochhauser, Bob Johnston
and Nancy White have brought Anne and Gilbert's experiences to life. Among
the songs I already mentioned, I liked Fred and Diana's song ("Carried
Away By Love"), the awkwardness
of "Jonah Day" that conveyed the willy-nilly feeling of a bad day,
Diana's internal debate in "Anne Wouldn't," and my favorite was
Gilbert's "All
You Can Do is Wait."
The omissions from novels to script made sense. Using Josie in place of Christine,
and Moody in place of Jonas, maintains a focus on Avonlea characters instead
of introducing distance and too many new faces. I appreciated that aspect
of the musical, and I think those changes helped center the story in Avonlea.
Having Diana, Marilla and Rachel read/sing Anne's letters while she was away
kept them included in the story, and I was glad the curtain fell on
Avonlea rather than Redmond or elsewhere.
Anne's college years capture the most confusing, romantic and wonderful new
experiences of being a young adult. Young women (and men) still identify with
Anne's trepidation at entering college,
first romances and ideal expectations for love. To finally see these moments
on the stage was a treat. Anne and Gilbert brought me a lot of joy,
and I am sure that others will feel the same. I strongly recommend the musical
to anyone visiting
the
Island this summer. A musical so wonderful should not be missed!
Here's an official photograph from Anne and Gilbert:
These photos are from the musical's producer, Campbell Webster:
This photo was sent to me from Wildfire. Thanks!
Past News on Anne and Gilbert the Musical:
The first news I read about this musical was in an
article from Playbill (August 8, 2003):
"Anne of Green Gables" Is in Love in Anne and Gilbert,
the Musical, Getting NYC Reading Aug. 11 By Kenneth Jones.
The characters of the beloved Canadian story, "Anne of Green Gables," are
grown up and falling in love in the musical, Anne and Gilbert, getting a presentation
in the York Theatre's developmental reading series Aug. 11.
The latest reading of the book musical by Bob Johnston and Nancy White (composers
and co-lyricists) and Jeff Hochhauser (librettist and co-lyricist) represents
revisions since Manhattan readings in 2001 and 2002.
" This reading is about letting go of [original author] Lucy Maud Montgomery
a little more," Hochhauser told Playbill On-Line, though the collaborators
do have the blessing of the Montgomery estate and are certainly not radically
reinventing the family-friendly world of the series of books.
The internationally-known Anne — the red-headed orphan who finds a home
on Prince Edward Island, in the Canadian maritimes, circa 1900 — already
spawned a popular musical in Canada, Anne of Green Gables and a widely-seen
TV series. The musical is known as Canada's only major musical theatre export.
Although
it lacks a profile in the United States, it is revived annually on Prince Edward
Island and in stock, school and amateur theatres across Canada, and had a West
End run in London.
The idea for Anne and Gilbert came to Hochhauser after he visited Prince Edward
Island and saw a production of Anne of Green Gables, the musical. He thought
a sequel exploring the romantic, more adult territory of the character would
be interesting and dramatic.
He and writing partner Bob Johnston, his collaborator on the musical,Theda Bara
and the Frontier Rabbi, invited Nancy White, a popular Canadian concert performer
with roots in PEI, to join them as a co writer.
Anne and Gilbert is based on the second and third books in the Anne series — "Anne
of Avonlea" and "Anne of the Islands."
" It's about Anne as a young woman, and about her tortured romance with
Gilbert," Hochhauser explained. "It's a surprisingly neurotic little
love story. Gilbert was a schoolboy and they have their contentious love affair:
She's holding out for a fantasy dream man, and then in the second act she gets
her fantasy dream man, but guess what? She winds up with Gilbert. It's a story
about why we make the choices we make in life."
The reading is co-directed by Hochhauser and Jonathan Hadley. Johnston
is musical
director. The cast includes Jessica Grové as Anne, Peter Deiwick as
Gilbert, Jill Corey as Mrs. Lynde, Nancy White as Marilla, with Holli Banks,
Holly Buczek,
Erin Crosby, Tobia D'Amore, Katie Harvey, Kim Jackson, Kelly Lobaugh, Roger
Mahadeen, Chandler Martin, Pat McRoberts, Mike O'Hara, Allen Lewis Rickman
and Justin-Michael
Youron.
The 7:30 PM Aug. 11 reading is free and open to the public, at the York's home
at The Theatre at St. Peter's, in the Citicorp Building, 54th and Lexington Avenue.
For reservations, call (212) 935-5824, ext. 24.
*
Hochhauser and Johnston are also developing a new two character musical, Mud
Donahue and Son — about the American song-and-dance man Jack Donahue and
his mother — as a vehicle for Sandy Duncan.
Readings and presentations of the Musical took place in New York City from 2000-2003. The Musical made it's world premiere at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria By the Sea, Prince Edward Island July 29 - September 5, 2005, and starred Marla McLean (as Anne) and Peter Deiwick (as Gilbert).
In 2005, I was sent the following infomation from Campbell Webster, producer of ANNE and GILBERT, The Musical.
ANNE IN LOVE...
Be part of a major international theatrical event as the World Premiere of ANNE and GILBERT continues the story of Anne of Green Gables through powerful song, dance and comedy.
Starring some of Canada's finest musical comedy actors, Anne and Gilbert tells the heart-warming story of Canada's greatest romance. Based on the sequel novels to Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, Anne and Gilbert follows Anne into young adulthood and her tumultuous romance with Gilbert Blythe, her childhood friend and rival.
This exciting and magical production features a 22-person cast and live orchestra.
ANNE and GILBERT, The Musical
by Nancy White, Bob Johnston, and Jeff Hochhauser
Starring Mama Mia! Stars Marla McLean and Peter Deiwick
JULY 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2005
Victoria Playhouse, 902-658-2025
www.anneandgilbert.com
In 2006, "Anne and Gilbert" was onstage in Summerside, PEI at the Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre from July 12th to September 3rd.
In 2007, Anne & Gilbert's was staged from July 15 to September 5th, 2007 at the Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre, in Summerside, PEI. The first Ontario production of Anne & Gilbert took the stage at the 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, July 18- Sept. 1, 2007.
External Links (will open in new windows):
ANNE and GILBERT, The Musical - go to the website to hear two songs from the musical and buy tickets to see it!
The "Anne and Gilbert" blog - hosted by this website
The Anne and Gilbert Message Board - hosted by this website for discussion of the musical
Last Updated 04.01.07
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