ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: THE MUSICAL Emma Knights Productions Collingrove Homestead Until 16 Dec 2018 Review by Sarah Westgarth It is a risky thing to stage an adaptation of a story as well-known as ‘Anne of Green Gables.’ The novel by L.M. Montgomery has been beloved for generations, and the 1985 mini-series starring Megan Follows is just as highly regarded. This musical version has been performed on Prince Edward Island in Canada since 1965, making it the longest running annual musical in the world. Emma Knights Productions’ mounting of the show takes place at the Collingrove Homestead, a backdrop that is picture perfect for Anne’s home in Avonlea. Complete with a real horse and buggy, a picturesque natural setting, and a building with actual green gables, this is a production with a lot of charm. Unfortunately, the script, while perhaps a loving tribute, often lacks the depth and heart of its source material. The cast give it their all, but it just isn’t enough to give the show any real emotional weight. The lacklustre script and songs are not helped by a performance that ultimately feels undercooked. It is noted in the program that the cast only had four rehearsals outside of production week, and it shows. There were some flubbed lines, and few of the actors seem entirely comfortable in their roles. The accents are inconsistent, and multiple periods that rely on the group ad-libbing feel awkward. The cast are enthusiastic, but the performances tend to be exaggerated and reliant on affectations and gesturing, which undercuts some of the realism. Issy Darwent looks perfectly the part in the lead role Anne and has a lovely singing voice. She is lively onstage, and clearly understands the character. There is little nuance to her performance though, which means Anne’s arc lacks depth. Darwent also delivered the majority of her lines directly to the audience, in a vocal tone that is overly exaggerated and lacks any sense of dynamics. Whether this was a direction given by Benjamin Maio Mackay or a deliberate choice is unclear, but was distracting. Adrian Barnes as Matthew Cuthbert brings to life the character’s inner world in a gentle and endearing performance. His number lamenting that he does not have the words to share his affection for Anne is a genuinely great moment. Leah Gauthier as Miss Stacy is also charming, and Annabelle Fleming as Diana Barry is delightful—though being significantly younger than Darwent means their friendship plays a little strange. The ensemble cast, largely children or adult actors playing multiple roles, are full of energy, but have trouble connecting. Collingrove Homestead is the ideal setting for Green Gables and the town of Avonlea, and it’s used effectively here, though the sight lines for the audience are not always clear. The music sounds beautiful and complements the aesthetics of the show nicely, even if some of the songs slow the pace of the show down. The cast’s vocals are generally strong, and they harmonise well. This production is a charming idea that could have been improved with more preparation and polishing, but was ultimately an underwhelming experience. There is enough here to be entertaining, and it serves as a good introduction to the story, but a lot of the significant moments don’t really land.