For the City Times

One hundred and ten years ago, a 34-year-old school teacher took the photo of a model and a note she had made in a journal while growing up with her grandparents in rural Prince Edward Island, Canada, and created a character that would take the world by storm. The author was Lucy Maud Montgomery, and her character was the effervescent Anne of Green Gables.

Since then, L.M. Montgomery’s book has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into at least 36 languages. It’s been adapted on film, television, animation, and theatre. Anne “with an E” continues to inspire us all, reminding us of the wonder and joy in every day.

Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre is proud to be producing the non-musical stage version of Anne of Green Gables, adapted for the stage by playwright Sylvia Ashby. Anne will run May 11 – 12 and 17 – 20 at the WRCT theatre in the Centralia Center.

Niamh Sweet plays young Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl sent by mistake to middle-aged brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The Cuthberts requested a boy from the orphanage to help them on their farm. Matthew (played by Ken Pelo) has a soft heart and wants to keep her, despite the fact that she is not at all what they expected. Marilla (Susan Edgren) is made of sterner stuff and wants to send her back. Red-haired, freckle-faced, overly-dramatic, unconventional Anne (with an E) brings color to their lives and melts even Marilla’s cold heart.

Directed by Jody Steinke, Anne includes a cast of all ages, and is appropriate for the whole family. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased online or through the WRCT office.

For more information, contact the WRCT office by phone at 715-421-0435 or visit the WRCT website at www.wrctheatre.org. WRCT would like to thank Bank-A-Count Corp and Solarus for sponsoring this production.