Anne and friends spark play
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from February 2004.
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Anne of the title is theatre an orphan, mistakenly sent to "a bachelor and an old maid" who wanted a boy to help out on their farm. She, as well as the three girls and three boys who are her friends and classmates, are all around the age of 12.
"We haven't done anything for kids for a while," said director Pat Steward.
"I thought this play would be perfect. It has good values, it's good family entertainment and it gets the kids participating, as well." With emphasis on family, there will be Sunday matinees at 3.00pm in addition to the traditional 7.30pm curtain on Fridays and Saturdays.
The play runs 20 February through 7 March. Mrs. Steward, who is Canadian, thought it was time to bring a Canadian play to Cayman. Anne of Green Gables is based on the well-loved series of books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, with the first one appearing in 1908. Generations grew up with Anne as their fictional friend.
A quick check of the Internet shows over 52,000 sites that mention Anne of Green Gables. According to one, Literary Traveler, Anne and the author gained renewed fame when the books were made into a TV mini-series in 1985. A sequel, Avonlea, was "introduced to the world" and shown in the United States over the Disney Channel.
Mrs. Steward is satisfied that the play reflects the spirit of the books and she is pleased with the cast assembled.
Anne is played by Jessica McDowall. Her best friend, Diana, is played by Stacie Sybersma. The role of Gilbert Blythe, Anne's enemy/admirer, is taken by Tom Newlove.
Other classmates and friends are Dominick Bodden as Charlie Sloan, Stacie Sybersma
Sabrina Douglas as Josie Pye, Sarah Dombrowsky as Ruby Gillis and Matthew Pellow as Moody Macpherson.
The adults are important, too. Heading the list are Louise Rigdon and Bill Bewley as the sister and brother who take Anne into their home.
Joyce Fell, Sarah Harvey and Caroline Harvey play various neighbours, all of whom impact Anne's life. Rounding out the cast are Janine Moss, Jamie McDowall, David Brough and Gerry McGeough.
