Anne of Green Gables – Review of 2025 Stratford Festival Production

The Stratford Festival has produced a supremely beautiful retelling and re-creation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s wonderful story, Anne of Green Gables. For those Canadians that live in caves, be informed that the novel tells the story of Anne (please note the “e”), an orphan who is sent to the farm of Matthew Cuthbert (Tim Campbell) and his sister Marilla (Sarah Dodd). Their house has the distinction of having green gables on its roof.
The problem is that they asked for and expected a boy from the orphanage and the arrival of Anne (Caroline Toal) is extremely disconcerting. But Anne turns out to be a gem of a human being and in Toal’s extraordinary performance a huge gift for the audience. She has a wild, wonderful, romantic imagination and talks at unbelievable speeds. She expresses her feelings in delightful superlatives (I will never…..the most …the best) and is prone to hilarious exaggerations. She has red hair braided in pigtails that she hates and Toal acts with such wonderful panache and passion that she leaves us breathless.
A bit more about the adaptation before I heap praise on the rest of the cast. The novel is set in rural Prince Edward Island in late 19th century. Kat Sandler was commissioned by the Stratford Festival to adapt the novel for the stage and is faithful to Montgomery for the first half of the play. The second half maintains all the characters of the first but takes place today.
The costumes change and we have a 21st century story. Anne and her classmates graduate from high school, and Anne applies for admission to Oxford University. She has had an “I hate you” relationship with tall and handsome Gilbert (Jordin Hall) that turns into something else, and a rocky relationship with neighbour Rachel Lyne (Maev Beaty). Matthew has a heart attack and Marilla has serious health issues. Anne’s world has changed, and she must decide which road to take. I will not disclose her choice in case you don’t know. The second half has its humour and pathos (was there a dry eye in the theatre at the end of the performance?) but it is different, and its humour does not rise to the hilarity of the first act.
Tim Campbell gives a superb performance as the quiet, decent and lovable Matthew. He develops an immediate affection for Anne and when Marilla accuses her of stealing a broach, he tells Anne that he knows she did not do it. Campbell is funny, moving and splendid.
The tough and bossy Marilla is done wonderfully by Dodd. She has decency and compassion that is slowly revealed. Beaty is outstanding as usual, and she gains the enmity of Anne by insulting her. Anne strikes back but eventually she shows magnanimity by apologizing.
Sandler has taken an interesting step in her adaptation by adding a Chorus. Aside from Anne, Marilla and Matthew the seven other actors play specific roles, but they also form the Chorus. From the start we are told that we will be told the story of Anne of Green Gables. We have some quick and funny changes as when Gilbert throws on a dress and becomes a woman. The other actors take on roles as teachers and Anne’s classmates. All of this shows versatility and creates of humour. I shall name the balance of them. They are Julie Lumsden (Diana Barry), Anne’s sworn bosom friend, Prissy Andrews (Jennifer Villaverde), Moody Spurgeon (Josue Laboucane), Josie Pye (Helen Belay), and Jane Andrews (Steven Hao). They along with the rest of the cast got a well-deserved standing ovation.
Set and Costume Designer Joanna Yu provided the skeleton of a house with green gables and appropriate long dresses for the 19th century segment and modern clothes for the 21st century.
Kat Sandler deserves huge kudos for her adaptation and direction. It showed meticulous attention to detail and pace. A small pause before a reply, a look, a glance were all used to provoke laughter and pathos. Superb work.
It is funny, moving, vibrant and Canadian.
Ann of Green Gables, adapted by Kat Sandle from the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery as one of the Schulich Children’s Plays will run in repertory until November 2, 2025, at the Avon Theatre, Stratford, Ontario. www.stratfordfestival.ca

Tim Campbell as Matthew Cuthbert and Caroline Toal as Anne Shirley   1hoto: David Hou.

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