This year’s fall play, Anne of Green Gables, sent the viewers on an emotional roller coaster from sad scenes about real truths to the point where the audience was laughing at raspberry cordial drunk kids.

A young red-haired Anne Shirley is adopted by siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The two were mistakenly given a girl instead of a boy as they had requested.. Anne is faced with challenges to be able to stay at Green Gables, requiring her to bring imagination and adventure into the uplifting story. Themes like following your dreams while you can, and letting your imagination lead you increasingly develop throughout the production leaving lingering thoughts about the play in the audience’s minds.

The production was directed by Mrs. Diane Feliciani and Mr. Bryan Kiggins. When asked why this specific play was chosen Mr. Kiggins says the two were, “…familiar with the play and felt comfortable directing”. The filmmakers’ familiarity with the plot was noticeable in the way the actors were able to have fun while working and overcome obstacles.

The cast of the show was small but talented.  Several actors performed two parts while others stayed in the same role the whole time. Slight wardrobe changes and the use of the auditorium space kept the audience intrigued overall.

The actors selected were outstanding. They were all able to connect with their characters, making the show more realistic and engaging. Two actors that really stood out were Sophomores Matt Radermacher as Matthew Cuthbert and Madison Emekter as Diana Barry.

Radermacher captured and embodied the awkward, but loving, character of Matthew, portraying him to a tee. Emekter, who played Anne’s best friend, was just as outstanding. Her way of connecting to the audience through her character sure does take talent, and she has it.

Even though the show onstage was very entertaining, it never would have been possible without what happens backstage. Stage crew played one of the biggest roles in this production. They masterfully directed all the lights and action behind the scenes.

Of course, in theater, not everything can go exactly as planned, even on Broadway where a single performance can make or break a career. This is high school though. Even though the whole cast and crew had rehearsed for five weeks, there were a few hiccups in the various performances. The loud tipping of a prop bench and maybe a few mistakenly left on mics here or there reflected the challenges of live performance.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kiggins said, “…the students have a great time with each other, learn some awesome skills, and find ways to express themselves.”  All in all, the students that participated in the production have a great learning experience in a wonderful environment. That’s all that matters in the end.