The Ottawa School of Theatre made a triumphant return to the 500-seat Harold Shenkman Hall last weekend with a marvelous all-ages performance of Anne of Green Gables.
It’s been six years since the OST last put on a production in the bigger theatre. After the COVID pandemic, they limited themselves to the much smaller Richcraft Theatre.
They took a big risk in renting out Harold Shenkman Hall for three performances – an evening performance last Friday night and two matinée performances on Saturday and Sunday – but it paid off with three straight sold out shows.
The other reason they needed the bigger space is the fact that there were 94 cast members, age five to 79.
The lead role of Anne Shirley was shared between Ava Nixon in the first act, and Julia Zuppa in Act 2. Both young ladies did a terrific job, especially when you take into account the sheer volume of dialogue they have to memorize in playing the red-headed chatterbox.
Lucy Maud Montgomery’s "Anne of Green Gables" is one of the most endearing and enduring Canadian novels of all time. First published in 1908, it has been translated into 36 different languages and has sold more than 50 million copies. It has also become a cottage industry in PEI, where the Green Gables Heritage Place attracts more than 130,000 tourists a year, mostly during the summer months.
The Ottawa School of Theatre production of Anne of Green Gables was adapted for the stage by former OST artistic director Kathi Langston who also directed the play, which means she was responsible for making sure that all 94 cast members knew their roles and when and how to perform them.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the space to name them all, but Kylie Stoltz and Dani Morris who played Anne’s bff Diana Barry in Acts 1 and 2 respectively, stood out to this audience member.
I should also make special mention of Gisèle Rivest who played Anne’s adopted mother Marilla Cuthbert. Despite losing her voice just before the opening Friday night performance, she still played the role on stage while Amanda Putz delivered her lines while playing Lucy Maud Montgomery sitting at a desk at the front of stage left. They pulled if off so well I couldn’t even tell.
As much as I love the story of Anne of Green Gables, and I’ve seen the musical version at the Confederation of Arts in Charlottetown on two occasions – the part where Anne’s adopted father Matthew dies gets me every time, as it did again in the OST production which was perfect from beginning to end.
I would be remiss if I didn’t make special mention of the job set designer Heather Burke did, as well as the amazing work done by costume designer Allison Hill with assistance from Biz MacDonald, Melissa Ouellette and Jamie McCallum.
If you want to be involved in OST’s next all-ages production which will take place in the fall, you need to first register at ost-eto.ca/2025-26-all-ages-plays/ and then show up for the auditions on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Rehearsals will be held on Thursday evenings and Sunday during the daytime from Sept 14 to Nov. 30. The amount of rehearsal time depends on the role.
ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET every Thursday from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.
STATION 71 PANCAKE BREAKFAST from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Fire Station 71 in Navan with a freewill donation to the CHEO Foundation. Come enjoy pancakes with local maple syrup Erabliere des Wats Sugar Bush, local coffee from Papa Bean coffee roastery, and sausages and bacon from Lavergne Meat. After breakfast check out the Navan Fall Fest at the Navan Fairgrounds.
