The Strike at Putney Church (2005)

The Strike at Putney Church (2005) is a play written by Eliza Jane Wilson that was based on a short story by L.M. Montgomery. The play premiered at The Arts Guild in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on November 17, 2005. The play was produced by ACT (A Community Theatre) and was directed by Paul Whelan.

Eliza Jane Wilson based the play on an L.M. Montgomery short story, titled "The Strike at Putney." This story can be read in the collection Against the Odds: Tales of Achievement, which was edited by Rea Wilmshurst.

The play is described as follows: "It is 1922 in rural PEI. The women of Putney Church are outraged when the elders deny a famous female missionary the opportunity to speak in the church. The women retaliate by going on strike!"

Image Credit:
Poster for The Strike at Putney Church (2005) from the ACT website.

Created November 29, 2005. Last updated May 21, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne: Journey to Green Gables (2004)

Anne: Journey to Green Gables is a animated film created by Sullivan Entertainment. The film serves as a prequel to both Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series and the 1985 Anne of Green Gables miniseries by Kevin Sullivan. The film was released direct-to-video in 2004.

The 85-minute long movie imagines Anne Shirley's life before she reaches Green Gables. After the death of her parents, Anne is in the care of the Hammond family where she is mistreated. Later, she is sent to the Grout Orphanage where the director Madame Poubelle treats the children cruelly. Anne must rely on her imagination to survive.

Kevin Sullivan and Trudy Grant were the executive producers of the film. Kevin Sullivan directed the movie, and he wrote the script with Michael MacLennan. The film features music composed by Peter Breiner and Don Gillis.

The cast includes the following actors who portrayed the voices of the animated characters:

Mckenzie Sullivan as Anne Shirley
Patricia Gage as Marilla Cuthbert
Wayne Robson as Matthew Cuthbert
Al Mukadam as Gilbert Blythe
Kyle Fairlie as Felix King
Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde
Rebecca Peters as Diana Barry
Cedric Smith as Tupper
Mike Beaver as Wilfred
Geoff Kahnert as Bailey
Kathryn Greenwood as Mavis
Dalene Irvine as Felicity King
Linda Sorensen as Hetty King
Ellen-Ray Hennessy as Mrs. Hammond
Kim Kuhteubl as Alice Lawson
Sara Botsford as Mrs. Barry / Frau Schuller

Synopsis (from the Annetoon website):
"Anne: Journey to Green Gables is an imaginative, animated prequel to the celebrated films that have charmed world audiences for two decades. In this brand new story, Anne has yet to go to Green Gables and dreams of having a family of her own. But as fate would have it, she is thrown into the clutches of Madame Poubelle, the faded aristocratic director of Grout Orphanage. It takes all of Anne’s scope for the imagination for her to endure until she gets to Green Gables."

Image credit:
Drawing of Anne Shirley from Anne: Journey to Green Gables. © Sullivan Entertainment. Used with permission.

Official Websites:
AnneToon.com - Official website for Anne: Journey to Green Gables and Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series
Anne: Journey to Green Gables - Watch the film online at Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables Kids Channel on YouTube.
Shop at Sullivan

References:
AnneToon.com - Official website for Anne: Journey to Green Gables and Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series
Anne: Journey to Green Gables at IMDB

Purchase and watch Anne: Journey to Green Gables on DVD:


Created October 18, 2005. Last updated November 8, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables U-Haul Truck

When I opened my front door today, I found this Anne of Green Gables U-Haul truck parked right outside my apartment. I took this photograph of it from my doorstep.

The under the illustration of Anne and Green Gables, the side of the truck reads:

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
HOME OF THE LEGENDARY ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
FOYER DE LA LÉGENDAIRE «ANNE DE LA MAISON AUX PIGNONS VERTS»

Seeing the truck made me smile. It's always nice to have a reminder of Prince Edward Island and Anne Shirley.

Here's a crisper view of the Anne Shirley graphic art from the U-Haul website:



Created September 3, 2005. Last updated June 10, 2022.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Emily of New Moon (1998-2000) Television Series Episode List

Here is the list of episodes from Emily of New Moon, the television series based on L.M. Montgomery's Emily trilogy. The series starred Martha MacIsaac as Emily Byrd Starr and aired from 1998 to 2000. Emily of New Moon ran for four seasons and had 46 total episodes. Seasons 1, 2, and 3 had 13 episodes each, and Season 4 had 7 episodes.

Season 1

1. "The Eye of Heaven"
2. "Storms of the Heart"
3. "The Book of Yesterday"
4. "The Disappointed House"
5. "Paradise Lost"
6. "The Enchanted Doll"
7. "Falling Angels"
8. "The Tale of Duncan McHugh"
9. " Wild Rover"
10. "The Ghost of Wyther Grange"
11. "A Child Shall Lead Them"
12. "A Winter's Tale"
13. "The Sound of Silence"

Season 2

1. "Summer of Sorrows"
2. "And So Shall They Reap"
3. "A Shadow in His Dream"
4. "Where Angels Fear to Tread"
5. "The Curse of the Poppet"
6. "Rivers of Babylon"
7. "A Time to Heal"
8. "The Devil's Punchbowl"
9. "Pins & Needles"
10. "Crown of Thorns"
11. "When the Bough Breaks"
12. "Love Knots"
13. "The Book of Hours"

Season 3

1. "Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies"
2. "The Return of Maida Flynn"
3. "Under the Wishing Moon"
4. "Bridge of Dreams"
5. "Bred in the Bone"
6. "The Return of Malcolm Murray"
7. "In the Valley of the Shadow of Death"
8. "Had a Wife and Couldn't Keep Her"
9. "A Fall From Grace"
10. "The Bequest"
11. "Command Performance"
12. "A Man May Work from Sun to Sun But a Woman's Work is Never Done"
13. "A Weaver of Dreams"

Season 4

1. "Rites of Passage"
2. "The Taming of Ilse Burnley"
3. "A Bill of Divorcement"
4. "Too Close to the Sun"
5. "The Weight of the World"
6. "Away"
7. "A Seller of Dreams"

Image credit:
Screencapture of Martha MacIsaac starring as Emily Starr in Emily of New Moon. © Salter Street Films and CINAR Films

Purchase and stream Emily of New Moon online:



Created July 13, 2005. Last updated October 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Emily of New Moon (1998-2000)

Emily of New Moon (1998–2000) is an intriguing Canadian television series that brought L.M. Montgomery's beloved Emily trilogy to life on the screen. Developed by Marlene Matthews, who also penned several episodes, the show was co-produced by Salter Street Films and CINAR Films. It aired on CBC in Canada and on WAM in the United States, with its popularity extending to 26 countries around the world. Over its four seasons and 46 episodes, Emily of New Moon enchanted audiences with its heartwarming yet sometimes dark storytelling.

At the center of the series is Martha MacIsaac, a Prince Edward Island native, who starred as the imaginative and strong-willed Emily Byrd Starr. Emily is sent to live with her strict relatives at New Moon farm after her father’s death, and the show follows her journey as she navigates loss, family tensions, and her unstoppable creative spirit. Sheila McCarthy portrayed Emily's gentle Aunt Laura, while her stern Aunt Elizabeth was brought to life by Susan Clark. Stephen McHattie played the kind but unusual Cousin Jimmy.

Emily's world is also filled with a dynamic group of friends. Jessica Pellerin played the fiery Ilse Burnley, Kris Lemche portrayed the dynamic Perry Miller, and Shawn Roberts was cast as the artistic Teddy Kent. Together, these charismatic young actors added layers of charm and depth to Emily's adventures.

The series earned critical acclaim, with Sheila McCarthy winning a Gemini Award in 1998 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. That same year, Kris Lemche took home the Gemini for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series. In 1999, Martha Henry was awarded a Gemini for Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series.

The heart of Emily of New Moon lies in Emily Starr's resilience and passion. Orphaned and thrust into a strict and stifling environment at New Moon, Emily clings to her vivid imagination and her dream of becoming a writer. Despite Aunt Elizabeth’s ban on reading anything beyond schoolbooks, Emily secretly pours her thoughts into letters to her late father and writes poetry. Through her close friendships with Ilse, Perry, and Teddy, Emily finds adventure and inspiration.

Fully filmed on Prince Edward Island, Emily of New Moon captivated viewers not only with its dark and mysterious storytelling but also with the Island’s stunning natural beauty. The show received widespread acclaim for both its mesmerizing scenery and the fine performances that brought L.M. Montgomery's world to life.

Image credit:
Screencapture of Martha MacIsaac playing Emily Starr in Emily of New Moon. © Salter Street Films and CINAR Films.

Purchase or stream Emily of New Moon online:



Created July 12, 2005. Last updated October 22, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Lantern Hill (1989)

Lantern Hill is a captivating TV movie adaption of L.M. Montgomery's novel Jane of Lantern Hill, brought to life by the visionary filmmaker Kevin Sullivan. Known for his masterful adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, Sullivan once again immerses viewers in the world of Montgomery's storytelling in Lantern Hill.

At the heart of Lantern Hill is Mairon Bennett's heartfelt and sincere portrayal of Jane Stuart, a young girl trying to reunite her family. She is supported by an exceptional cast: Sam Waterston as her distracted father, Andrew Stuart, and Patricia Phillips as her weak-willed mother, Robin Stuart. Sarah Polley lights up the screen as Jane's friend Jody Turner, and the incomparable Colleen Dewhurst adds a touch of mystery as the enigmatic Hepzibah. Set in the 1930s, the film stays true to the novel’s core plot, but introduces intriguing supernatural elements and new characters that weave an air of mystery and enchantment into the story.

The film features familiar faces from Sullivan Entertainment's beloved productions. Fans of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea will recognize Colleen Dewhurst for her memorable portrayal of the stern yet tender Marilla Cuthbert. Sarah Polley went on to star as Sara Stanley, the imaginative "Story Girl" on Road to Avonlea. Mairon and her brother Zachary Bennett (who plays Jimmy-John Meade here) would later have roles on Road to Avonlea as well, with Zachary playing the spirited Felix King and Mairon portraying Colleen Pritchard and Young Hetty King.

With a screenplay co-written by Kevin Sullivan and Fiona McHugh, Lantern Hill was a collaborative production between Sullivan Entertainment, the CBC, PBS, and the Disney Channel. The film is beautifully complemented by John Welsman's evocative score, which sets the tone for the heartwarming and mysterious story. Welsman would later create the memorable music for Road to Avonlea.

Lantern Hill received critical acclaim, winning two Gemini Awards in 1991. Sarah Polley's standout performance earned her a Gemini for Best Supporting Actress, and Martha Mann was honored for her costume designs. Colleen Dewhurst’s compelling role earned her an Emmy nomination in 1990 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special.

The film is a testament to the enduring appeal of L.M. Montgomery's works and Sullivan Entertainment’s unique ability to bring her timeless stories to the screen.


Here is the film's description from Sullivan Entertainment:

A spellbinding ghost story unfolds when 12-year-old Jane Stuart’s mysterious father (Sam Waterston), whom her family has tried to convince her is dead, resurfaces to reconcile his troubled past. She discovers a kind man, genuinely interested in both her welfare and her mother’s. With the assistance of a powerful mystic, Jane resolves to reunite her parents, despite the forces that stand in her way. Based on the acclaimed novel, Jane of Lantern Hill, by L.M. Montgomery.

Here is the film's description from Disney (archived):

Twelve-year-old Jane has grown up thinking that her father (Sam Waterston) has passed away, until he suddenly writes one day, requesting custody of his daughter. Despite the protests of a meddling grandmother (Zoe Caldwell), Jane is sent to live with her father at Lantern Hill, the farm where she was born. Prepared for the worst, Jane discovers her father to be a kind and caring man whose undying love for her mother has been shrouded all these years by the mysterious circumstances of their separation. Through the encouragement of a mystical woman named Hepzibah (Colleen Dewhurst), Jane secretly resolves to reunite her parents by overcoming the obstacles that stand in her way, while discovering the courage and inner strength she never knew existed.

Image credit:
Screencapture of Mairon Bennett as Jane Stuart in Lantern Hill. © Sullivan Entertainment

Official Website:
Lantern Hill

References:

Wonderworks Family Movie Series. VideoHound's MovieRetriever.com. Retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20160820032319/http://www.movieretriever.com/videohound_lists/90154/Wonderworks-Family-Movie-Series (archived)

Lantern Hill. IMDb. Retrieved from: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099974/?ref_=tt_mv_close


Purchase and watch Lantern Hill:



Created July 11, 2005. Last updated September 27, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables Miniature Diorama

My boyfriend gave me a blind box, which he spotted while traveling in Seattle. It's from the "Little Anime Series World Masterpiece Theater" collection. Each box contains a miniature diorama from one of five World Masterpiece Theater anime series produced by Nippon Animation. One of the anime series included is Anne of Green Gables (Akage no An). Knowing that I love Anne of Green Gables, my boyfriend bought a box for me and hoped for the best. Lucky for me, my box contained the Anne of Green Gables scene.

This blind box collection was manufactured by MegaHouse in 2003. The five World Masterpiece Theater series included in the collection are: Anne of Green Gables (1979), 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1976), Rascal the Raccoon (1977), A Dog of Flanders (1975), and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1980). The scenes for the five series are depicted on the sides of the blind box and on the insert inside the box (pictured below):





Inside the red box was a pink case that looked like a tiny book:



A brown plastic box, designed to look like wood, slides out of the pink case:



Opening the box reveals the eight items shown below: the Green Gables kitchen, Matthew's couch and shoes, the Green Gables kitchen table, a bowl, a pair of birds, and three characters: Matthew Cuthbert, Marilla Cuthbert, and Anne Shirley:



Here's a closer view of Matthew Cuthbert (who's asleep), Marilla Cuthbert, and Anne Shirley (carrying a layered cake):



Here are a few views of the Anne of Green Gables diorama with Matthew asleep on his couch, Marilla bustling about the kitchen, and Anne carrying a lovely layered cake (that hopefully is flavored with vanilla instead of liniment):





Here's a close-up view of the Green Gables diorama:



Created June 27, 2005. Last updated January 20, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne & Gilbert: The Musical (2005)

Anne & Gilbert: The Musical (2005) is a musical based on stories from the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. The musical premiered at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria–By-the-Sea, Prince Edward Island on August 4, 2005. The first act of the musical is based on Anne of Avonlea, and the second act is based on Anne of the Island. The story was adapted for the stage by Jeff Hochhauser, Nancy White, and Bob Johnston.

I was fortunate to watch the musical in 2006 at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside. It's a wonderful production, and the songs are charming.

A CD featuring some of the songs and a book based on the Anne & Gilbert musical are available online. You can also listen to the album at Apple Music.


Official Site:
Anne and Gilbert: The Musical

Image Credit:
Promotional artwork from Anne & Gilbert: The Musical.

Purchase the Anne & Gilbert cast recording and check out the script and lyrics book:

Created June 3, 2005. Last updated May 12, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com