Once upon a time, author Lucy Maud Montgomery called Norval home - a claim to fame and source of pride for the hamlet.
While ‘Maud’ died in 1942, her works are now being resurrected by Marion Abbott for a homecoming of sorts in Norval.
Very much the spirit of Anne of Green Gables, Abbott is putting on three shows throughout August for locals and visitors to enjoy. These performances include Conversations with the Ladies of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne and Maude and All about Anne.
“Anyone who's read any of Maud’s writing, they might understand that Maud wrote the most extraordinary female characters,” said Abbott, who owns Spirit of Maud Theatre Company.
Audiences will get to know the women of Anne of Green Gables through monologues in Conversations with the Ladies. Anne and Maud is “a combination of Anne of Green Gables the book and Maud’s journal entries,” Abbott said.
“My goal was to give the audience a perspective on Anne by seeing pieces of Maud’s life and the way Maud shares her heart in her journal.”
All about Anne is a revue show with songs and stories.
While the experiences across the plays might be jovial, Abbott’s goal is to tell the story of Maud her audience didn’t get to see. In 2008, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s family revealed that she may have killed herself after years of depression. Abbott hopes that her work may be a window into womanhood in a time when women’s suffering was not taken seriously.
“Artists who experience a lot of isolation, if they do struggle with any kind of anxiety or other mental illness, often it goes sort of not talked about or unshared,” Abbott said. “She actually lost her second baby. A miscarriage is still something not widely spoken about. Why are parents still feeling that they can't openly share that or openly ask for the help and support they need?”
A wide cast of actors and actresses will be playing all of the beloved characters from the books:
Brianna Taylor, who was taught by Abbott, is playing the titular character of Anne Shirley.
Diana Lavelle, also trained by Abbott, will be playing Ruby Gillis and various other roles.
All Spirit of Maud Theatre Company performances will be dedicated to Lavelle’s late mother, also named Anne.
“She loved Anne Shirley, she loved Lucy Maud Montgomery. She loved watching her daughter perform,” Abbott added.
Lavelle’s mother also watched Taylor grow up and “really took delight in the success of other young artists as well.”
Paul Barker will play Matthew Cuthbert.
Heidi Ross will breathe life into Marilla Cuthbert.
Burlington’s Stephanie Rose will be Diana Barry, Anne’s friend.
Avra Fainer adopts the role of Mrs. Rachel Lynd, the neighbour.
Gabrielle Bauman will take up one of the biggest roles, Lucy Maud Montgomery herself.
And Alice Malakhov will be in various roles across the productions.
If you would like to attend, check out the Town’s events calendar or the Spirit of Maud Theatre Company’s website. Shows will be held all throughout August at St. Paul's Anglican Church at 14 Adamson St. S., Norval Tickets for all shows are $25.
