‘MAGICAL PUZZLE’
After two years of putting the pieces together, A.C.T. presents ‘Rainbow Valley’, adapted and directed by Hank Stinson with music by Dean Bury, at The Guild in Charlottetown
Pieces come together and ‘Rainbow Valley’ set to hit the stage
When Hank Stinson was asked a couple of years ago whether he had any plays he wanted to direct, memories of “Rainbow Valley” flooded his mind.
He had adapted the L.M. Montgomery novel in the late 1990s and, together with composer Dean Burry, turned it into a musical.
“It’s the story of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ 17 years later. She is married to Dr. Gilbert Blythe. They have six children who befriend some kids who have moved into the community,” explains the P.E.I. playwright.
“Rainbow Valley” enjoyed a successful run in March of 2000 when it was produced by Stage Door Theatre in Charlottetown.
“It was done as a children’s show and it was very delightful. But, after the run, I didn’t know what to with it. So, it went into a drawer and sat for a long time,” says Stinson.
So, when the question was asked by Rob Thomson, who was president of A.C.T. at the time, the playwright opened the desk drawer and went looking for the manuscript.
Stinson thought it would give him an excuse to have another look at the play and maybe broaden its appeal.
“I wanted to make it a family show by adding some adult elements to it. . . It’s probably what L.M. Montgomery would have liked.”
So, he went to work on it, eventually workshopping it with the help of his creative team.
Now, two years later, “Rainbow Valley” is being mounted by A.C.T. members who are volunteering their energies to help Stinson realize his dream.
“It’s been such a joy to see them come together and work on this musical puzzle and grow together, especially the kids who have grown so much, in stature, confidence and performance,” says Stinson.
Prince Edward Islanders are going to see the new-and-improved play for the first time when A.C.T. presents the musical at The Guild in Charlottetown, next week.
“It’s thrilling to see all this — the process — as well as the finished product,” says Stinson, of the show that hits the boards of The Guild in Charlottetown Nov. 8-10 and Nov. 15-17.
Musical director/assistant director Marti Hopson agrees. She says bringing Burry’s music score to life was a transformative experience.
“Right from the start, we could tell that the lyrics were magical, with a lot of life in them. Then, having a group of people come together and start afresh, not knowing the music or the rhythm but injecting all their energy and vitality into the music was really special,” says Hopson, adding the orchestral arrangement was done by Natalie Williams-Calhoun.
Cast members are also thrilled about being in a new musical.
Hannah McGaughey, 21, is busy putting her own stamp on the character Mary Vance, who she describes as “a mischievous home girl who is self-sufficient
“What appeals to me about this play, and why I am so determined to finish this project, is because it happens in the mid 1920s. So, it’s a snapshot, a time capsule, of Island life before the advent of technology. So, it shows you exactly what kind of skills and talents people had before they could to find the answers to all their questions by Googling.” Hank Stinson
and too smart for her own good”.
“It’s really exciting to play a role that is bare bones. Unlike playing a character that people are familiar with and you want to pay homage to, I get to work from the ground up,” says the Charlottetown resident.
James Ronahan also likes being part of the production.
“It feels really homegrown and special,” says the 13-year-old, who plays Gerry Meredith, the boy who thinks he’s the smartest in his family. James shares the role with Joe Moak.
As Stinson watches the pieces of the musical puzzle come together for opening night, he shares his motivation for bringing this Island story to life.
“What appeals to me about this play, and why I am so determined to finish this project, is because it happens in the mid 1920s. So, it’s a snapshot, a time capsule, of Island life before the advent of technology. So, it shows you exactly what kind of skills and talents people had before they could to find the answers to all their questions by Googling.”
Without instant answers, they had to solve their own problems and make their own fun.
“In living their own lives, they discover that the information they need doesn’t come from out there. It comes from inside.”