More Theater Monday - Anne of Green Gables

What: Anne of Green Gables 

Where: Goodspeed Opera House 

             6 Main Street

             East Haddam, CT

Who: Ages 5 and Up

When: Through September 4, 2022

Me - Anne of Green Gables the musical was good. Although I knew the basic plot of the novel, I had never read it, or seen another version of it before so I was not that familiar with it. I enjoyed it very much. The story was interesting. I don't really remember most of the songs now, but I did enjoy some of them when I heard them in the show. The acting was good. Juliette Redden who played Anne was the perfect choice for the role. She was definitely the highlight of the show. All in all, however, it was a very enjoyable show.

Mom -  The version of Anne of Green of Gables currently playing at the Goodspeed Opera House is a new musical version of the classic story. For the most part, the plot seems pretty true to the original story.  It does seem to emphasize the relationship between Anne and her good friend, Diana Barry more so than other versions, however. There is some heavy sexual tension between them.  It is not exactly surprising that the story leans this way because the book and lyric writer of the musical, Matt Vinson, is known for creating and reclaiming queer histories as noted in his playbill bio. In this case, however, nothing romantic ever does happen between Anne and Diana, and the latter eventually ends up married to a man.

The show is well cast and the acting is uniformly good. Juliette Redden is the ideal choice for the lead role of  Anne Shirley. Not only does she look the part with her natural red hair and freckles, but her performance perfectly embodies the feisty feminist heroine. 

There are some good songs in the folk rock-tinged score. Still, they won't necessarily stick in your head the first time you hear them.  Several of the songs are available on a concept album that was released in 2020, the year the show was originally supposed to open.

The overwhelming theme of an orphan girl coming into her own and finding a place to belong has always made Anne of Green Gables a beloved family-friendly favorite. This new telling of the story is a nice addition to the pantheon of versions of the tale and is definitely worth seeing. 

And that's our view. For more information about Anne of Green Gables the new musical or to purchase tickets, visit www.goodspeed.org/shows/anne-of-green-gables

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.