Play Suggestions: Anne of Green Gables???

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Anne of Green Gables???

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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2407
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 2:53am
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Topic: Anne of Green Gables???

Posted By: Kim L.
Subject: Anne of Green Gables???
Date Posted: 5/21/07 at 9:24am

Hi, I will be teaching a middle school drama class in my home school co-op (in the fall). I have a little experience co-directing younger children in plays. This will be a larger production than I have done and with slightly older children.

The class will be designed to teach the fundamentals of theatre while simultaneously work toward the production of a play (in the spring). The class will meet once a week for an hour and we will add outside of class rehearsals as we near production.

I am in beginning to look at the play I will choose for production. I do not know the student make-up of my class, yet. However, I am guessing it will be around 12-15 children, primarily girls.

I need to choose a play which is family friendly. I also need something that is not complicated with regard to sets and scene changes. We will be using a small stage that has small wing areas off each side. The stage backs up to a wall and there is no entrance to the stage from the back. I am considering Anne of Green Gables. Here are my questions to you guys:

1. Do you think Anne of Green Gables would be a good choice for my class?
2. If so, do you have any recommendations for scripts/playwrights for Anne of Green Gables?
3. Do you have any other recommendations of better plays to perform?

Thank you very much for any advice you can give me.

Kim

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Kim

Replies:

Posted By: avcastner
Date Posted: 5/23/07 at 11:39pm

I directed Anne of Green Gables by Sylvia Ashby from Baker Plays (handled by Samuel French). It was great--12 roles. I think it broke down as 7 girls and 5 boys.

It may be too difficult of a play for a beginning middle school drama class. If you are looking for something easy for them to cut their teeth on, I would highly recommend one of the plays from the Pioneer Drama Service catalog--they are usually broad comedies, melodramas, etc. geared at middle school, high school, and community theatre levels. Also, most of their scripts are heavy on the females and light on males. I personally would recommend Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue Meet the Dirty Dan Gang, Wagon Wheels A-Rollin, Tied to the Tracks (there is a non-musical version, but I don't know the name of it). They also have a few pirate shows, a couple of murder mysteries--you name it.

Their website http://pioneerdrama.com - http://pioneerdrama.com

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Posted By: Kim L.
Date Posted: 5/24/07 at 7:44am

Thank you for your response and wisdom. Do you mind if I ask what makes Green Gables difficult? Is it the acting skills that are required? Is it the staging and set changes? Thank you so much!!!

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Kim

Posted By: avcastner
Date Posted: 5/27/07 at 12:38am

Difficult--you need quality actors who can pull off serious drama. Mathew dies, and you have to believe that Anne and Marilla are heartbroken.

Staging: (what we did) UR a 8 x 8 platform for Anne's bedroom

DR--the opinionated neighbor's front of her house with a tree next to it

DL--the living room/dining room

CS--school room set up with just chairs and slates for the kids to write on

bare stage--opening, train station, lake scene

DC--sitting on the edge of the stage follow-spotted--the wagon ride home from the station -- Anne and Mathew

Costumes need to be authentic. If you don't have a true red-head, you'll need two wigs--one for Anne with pig tails and one for her Gibson-girl hairdo at the end. Anne also needs two costumes--her normal clothes at the beginning and her dress with puffed sleeves at the end.

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Posted By: maureen
Date Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:44pm

Hi Kim,

I started off wondering why you had never heard of Anne of Green Gables.It is the quintessential story of a young orphan girl comming of age in a farming community in PEI,Canada.You are from the States.This play is definitely family friendly with lots of kids rolls and some very memorable adult characters.It doesn't have to be done as a huge production to work well because the characters speek for themselves.It originated from a series of books by Lucy Maude Montgomery.See if you can get a hold of the books to read and go from there.There's also a movie of the series produced by Kevin Sullivan.I think it's perfect for youn girls.

Maureen

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 8/25/07 at 10:54pm

I have never been involved in a production of Anne of Green Gables; however, I've seen three (four?) productions of the straight play and one of the musical.

Because a couple of the straight productions weren't very good - even though the actors seems competent and the production values were adequate, it leads me to believe there are some script issues that have to be dealt with. It does get a little heavy at times - and the actors really have to be able to carry it off. I know it CAN be done, because in others I've attended, it was quite good. The musical version I only saw once - and since it was on Broadway, LOL, it was quite enjoyable indeed.

Personally, I believe the success of a production of this play lives or dies with the director. There is so many pace problems inherent in the script, the director really has to know when to move the thing along - and when to slow it down purposefully.

Posted By: Kim L.
Date Posted: 8/26/07 at 7:04am

Maureen,

I didn't mean to give of the impression that I had never heard of Anne of Green Gables. I have read the story and actually perused a few scripts.

As it turns out, I am switching gears and am going to do The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrbobe. Dramatic Publishing has a beautiful script.

Thanks for the input,
Kim

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Kim

Posted By: lessismore
Date Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:41pm

What about "The Wizard of Oz"? I have done it with both community theatre and grade 4 -8 students. There are a number of scripts available that have low royalties. It is a good one to do if you have a lot of girls because they could easily play the Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion. The students love it, and it is not really difficult to stage. I can get you the name of the script I used if you are interested.