As refreshing as raspberry cordial
D’arcy Mcgee students deliver lively version of classic musical
Not much can beat a Sunday School picnic with ice cream unless it’s a production of Anne of Green Gables. D’Arcy McGee High School stepped up to the task and staged a lively performance that oozed delight from the pistachio start to the sweet vanilla finish.
Based on the 1908 masterpiece novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canada’s longest running musical follows the adventures of a young girl named Anne (with an e) Shirley in the small town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. After a misunderstanding at a Nova Scotia orphanage, Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew receive the cheeky redhead instead of the boy they had requested. Although they had intended to send her back, Anne soon wins over the Cuthberts and the rest of the town with her talkative, but endearing personality.
D’Arcy McGee students delivered a strong performance that was reflected in both the theatrical and technical aspects of the show. From the use of tableaus to the creation of a multi-level set, the cast and crew imbued the production with clever and original artistry.
Tasia Loeffler-Vulpe embodied the whimsies and passions of Anne Shirley with perfectly timed assertions and contagious cheer. Her strength as a vocalist was expressed in songs such as the buoyant Gee I’m Glad I’m No One Else But Me and the zany The Facts. Loeffler-Vulpe’s exuberance was completed by the lovable mild-mannered performance of Andrew Matthews (Matthew Cuthbert). Together they created believable father-daughter chemistry that added heartwarming depth to the comedic show.
Jackie Batsinduka mastered the formidable nature of Marilla Cuthbert with unwavering sobriety that eventually melted in the passionate ballad The Words (reprise). Her steady vocals also blended melodically with those of Loeffler-Vulpe and Matthews in We Clearly Requested. Matthew Boutros enhanced his role as Gilbert Blythe with a teasing disposition that contrasted with the sincerity of his vocal performance. Sirene Bellahnid captured the bubbly friendliness of Anne’s kindred spirit, Diana Barry, while Tessa Kuka evinced the raging jealousy of Anne’s foil, Josie Pye. Although her appearance as Mrs. Blewett was brief, Emma Wendt’s noteworthy rendition of the gruff and cantankerous character created a tidal wave of audience laughter.
The colourful sets, under the direction of Shelby Hagerman, reflected the Prince Edward Island setting with red sand, lush trees and a winding river. Throughout the numerous set changes, the D’Arcy McGee stage crew worked quickly, quietly and efficiently. Smooth lighting transitions — courtesy of Alexa Courbetis — emulated the emotions of the play, while the makeup team (Emma Wendt, Victoria Courbetis) created era-true hairstyles, including realistic salt-and-pepper hair for the older characters.
Altogether, D’Arcy McGee delivered a solid production of Anne of Green Gables that was as refreshing as raspberry cordial and as potent as currant wine.