Study Guide prepared by Catherine Bush

Barter Playwright-in-Residence

Anne of Green Gables By Catherine Bush Adapted from the book by Lucy Maud Montgomery *Especially for Grades 3 and up By the Barter Players, Barter Theatre, Fall 2014

On tour January thru March 2015

(NOTE: standards listed below are for reading Anne of Green Gables, seeing a performance

of the play and completing the study guide.)

Virginia SOLs English –3.5, 4.5, 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, 5.9, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.7, 7.9, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7, 8.9, 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.6, 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.6 Theatre Arts – M.6, M.7, M.8, M.9, M.13, M.14, TI.6, TI.7, TI.8, TI.9, TI.11, TI.12, TI.15, TII.2, TII.12, TII.14, TII.15, TIII.6, TIII.12

Tennessee Common Core State Standards English/Language Arts - Reading Literacy: 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, 7.4, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 9-10.1, 9-10.4, 9-10.9 English Language Arts – Writing: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.7, 6.9. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.7, 8.9, 9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.3, 9-10.7, 9-10.9 Theatre – 3.6.2, 3.6.4, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.8.1, 4.6.1, 4.6.4, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8.1, 5.6.1, 5.6.4, 5.7.1, 5.7.2, 5.8.1 Theatre 6-8: 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 Theatre 9-12: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2

North Carolina Common Core State Standards English Language Arts – Reading Literacy: 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, 7.4, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 9-10.1, 9-10.4, 9-10.9 English Language Arts – Writing: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.7, 6.9. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.7, 8.9, 9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.3, 9-10.7, 9-10.9

North Carolina Essential Standards Theatre Arts – 3.A.1, 3.CU.1, 3.CU.2, 4.A.1, 5.A.1, 5.AE.1, 5.CU.1, 6.C.1, 6.C.2, 6.A.1, 6.AE.1, 7.C.1, 7.C.2, 7.A.1, 7.AE.1, 8.C.1, 8.C.2, 8.A.1, 8.AE.1, 8.CU.1, 8.CU.2, B.C.1, B.C.2, B.A.1, B.AE.1, B.CU.1, B.CU.2, I.A.1, I.AE.1, I.CU.2

Setting Various locations in the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island, Canada, 1890’s

Characters

Anne Shirley – a redheaded orphan with a vivid imagination Marilla Cuthbert – the spinster who adopts Anne Matthew Cuthbert – Marilla’s brother – quiet and shy Rachel Lynde – the Cuthbert’s nosy neighbor Mrs. Blewett – a termagant who wants to adopt Anne Diana Barry – Anne’s bosom friend Gilbert Blythe – a classmate of Anne’s Mr. Phillips – the Avonlea schoolmaster Stationmaster – runs the Avonlea railroad depot Doctor – country physician

Note: Cast Size and Doubling of Actors This production of Anne of Green Gables features only six actors, with some actors playing more than one role. Doubling of actors requires distinction between characters. In this production, characters will be distinguished by costume, voice and other physical character traits.

Synopsis As soon as Anne Shirley arrived in Avonlea and saw the snug, white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knew she wanted to stay forever… but would the Cuthberts want to keep her? Or would they send her back to the orphanage? Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert were hoping to adopt a boy, not a skinny girl with red hair (which she hates!) and a temper to match – a temper that gets her into trouble time and again, first with the gossipy neighbor Rachel Lynde, and then again at school, when Anne breaks a slate over Gilbert Blythe’s head for calling her “Carrots.” If only Anne could convince Matthew and Marilla to let her stay, she would try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes or blurting out the very first thing that came to mind. Shy Matthew finds himself charmed by this otherworldly imp, but his sister Marilla isn’t quite sure. Anne is not like anybody else; she was special – a girl with an enormous imagination. And this orphan girl dreamed of the day when she could call herself Anne of Green Gables.

Biography of the Author Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874 in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Although few women of that time received a higher education, Lucy attended Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, PEI, and then Dalhousie University in Halifax. At seventeen she went to Nova Scotia to work for a newspaper, the Halifax Chronicle, and wrote for its evening edition, the Echo. But Lucy came back to rural Prince Edward Island to teach, and lived with her grandmother at Cavendish. It is this experience, along with the lives of her farmer and fisherfolk neighbors, that came alive when she wrote her “Anne” books, beginning with Anne of Green Gables in 1908. First published as a serial for a Sunday school paper, Anne

of Green Gables quickly became a favorite of readers throughout the world. In 1911, Lucy married Ewen MacDonald and afterwards they moved to Ontario, where he became the minister of a Presbyterian church. She bore three sons but continued to write, including seven more novel featuring Anne Shirley and her family. She also wrote Emily of New Moon in 1923 followed by two sequels, and Pat of Silver Bush in 1933 and its sequel. In 1935, her husband retired and they moved to Toronto. In 1942, L.M. Montgomery dies and was buried in the Cavendish cemetery on Prince Edward Island.

Biography of the Playwright

Catherine Bush lives in Abingdon, Virginia where she is Barter Theatre’s Playwright-in-Residence. Her produced plays include: The Other Side of the Mountain, The

Quiltmaker, Comin’ Up A Storm, I’ll Never Be Hungry

Again (book and lyrics), Wooden Snowflakes, Tradin’

Paint, The Controversial Rescue of Fatty the Pig, Where

Trouble Sleeps, The Road to Appomattox, The

Frankenstein Summer, Walking Across Egypt, A Jarful of

Fireflies , and unhINGEd. Another play, Just a Kiss (produced at New Theatre) was a finalist for the 2007 American Theatre Critics Association’s Steinberg Award. Her plays for young audiences include Cry Wolf!, Sleeping

Beauty, Rapunzel, Frosty, The Scarlet Letter, The

Adventures of Tom Sawyer, All I Want for Christmas is My

Two Front Teeth, My Imaginary Pirate, The Legend of

Sleepy Hollow, The Call of the Wild, The Princess and the

Pea, Rudolph, The Red Badge of Courage, Aesop’s Fables,

Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Mother Goose: The

Musical and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

A Brief History Barter Theatre was founded during the Great Depression by Robert Porterfield, an enterprising young actor. He and his fellow actors found themselves out of work and hungry in New York City. Porterfield contrasted that to the abundance of food, but lack of live theatre, around his home region in Southwest Virginia. He returned to Washington County with an extraordinary proposition: bartering produce from the farms and gardens of the area to gain admission to see a play.

Barter Theatre opened its doors on June 10, 1933 proclaiming, “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh.” The price of admission was 40 cents or the equivalent in produce, the concept of trading “ham for Hamlet” caught on quickly. At the end of the first season, the Barter Company cleared $4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly and enjoyed a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds.

Playwrights including Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder accepted Virginia ham as payment for royalties. An exception was George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, who bartered the rights to his plays for spinach.

Today, Barter Theatre has a reputation as a theatre where many actors performed before going on to achieve fame and fortune. The most recognized of these alumni include Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Ned Beatty, Gary Collins, Larry Linville and Frances Fisher. The list also included James Burrows, creator of Cheers, Barry Corbin, and the late Jim Varney

Robert Porterfield passed away in 1971. His successor, Rex Partington, had been at Barter in the 1950s as an actor and in the 1970s as stage manager. Rex returned as chief administrator from 1972 until his retirement in 1992. In March 2006, he passed away.

Richard Rose was named the producing artistic director in October 1992. In that time, attendance has grown from 42,000 annual patrons to more than 163,000 annual patrons. Significant capital improvements have also been made. Including maintenance to both theatres, and in 2006, the addition of The Barter Café at Stage II and dramatic improvements to Porterfield Square.

Barter represents three distinct venues of live theatre: Barter Theatre Main Stage, Barter Theatre Stage II and The Barter Players. Barter Theatre, with over 500 seats, features traditional theatre in a luxurious setting. Barter Stage II, across the street from Barter Main Stage and beyond Porterfield Square, offers seating for 167 around a thrust stage in an intimate setting and is perfect for more adventurous productions. The Barter Players is a talented ensemble of actors, producing plays for young audiences throughout the year.

History is always in the making at Barter Theatre, building on legends of the past; Barter looks forward to the challenge of growth in the future.

Vocabulary Words

Define the meaning of the following words then use them correctly in a sentence.

lyrical

acquaintance

orphan

smallpox

depot

scope

parlor

suspense

fetch

adopt

qualm

strychnine

complexion

sorrow

romantic

sensible

distinguished

gable

despair

suppose

bewitch

bleak

moderation

gimlet

homely

sourpuss

vexed

outspoken

dungeon

dawdle

brooch

amethyst

kindred

pincushion

bureau

falsehood

catastrophe

excruciating

imperious

alabaster

exotic

exquisite

cordial

contagious

intoxicate

courting

croup

ipecac

expectorant

phlegm

dunce

commencement

beau

bosom

WORD SEARCH Find the following words below: Avonlea, Green Gables, Anne Shirley,

orphanage, Marilla Cuthbert, kindred spirit, Matthew, croup, Gilbert Blythe,

carrots, Diana Barry, slate, Canada, Rachel Lynde, L.M. Montgomery,

cordial, ipecac, imagination, adopt, Shining Waters, puffed sleeves,

scholarship

A G G I L B E R T B L Y T H E

N S R J C I S P C W W I R P P

N R N E G A U L E O R A E U I

E E E B E O R H A I L E B F H

S T C G R N T R P T C L H F S

H A A C A T G S O O E N T E R

I W C D A N D A R T A O U D A

R G E M A E A D B D S V C S L

L N P D R N I H O L G A A L O

E I I D C A A P P E E R L E H

Y N N X L Y T C A R B S L E C

Y I M A G I N A T I O N I V S

K H E D N Y L L E H C A R E N

P S Y R R A B A N A I D A S O

L M M O N T G O M E R Y M F V

True and False

Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False. 1. ____ The town of Avonlea is located on Prince Edward Island, Mexico. 2. ____ Anne Shirley loves her red hair. 3. ____ The book Anne of Green Gables was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. 4. ____ Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert were planning to adopt a boy. 5. ____ Anne broke an iPad over Gilbert’s head when he called her “Carrots.” 6. ____ Matthew Cuthbert was outgoing and extremely talkative. 7. ____ Anne accidentally intoxicated her bosom friend, Diana Barry. 8. ____ Matthew Cuthbert’s wife was named Marilla. 9. ____ L.M. Montgomery was born in Cavendish, PEI. 10. ____ Marilla made Rachel Lynde apologize to Anne. 11. ____ Matthew bought Anne a dress with puffed sleeves.

Matching

Match the person or place in the first column with the corresponding description in the second. 1. The Lake of Shining Waters a. The Avenue 2. ipecac b. Marilla’s shy brother 3. Anne Shirley c. Barry’s pond 4. raspberry cordial d. Anne’s bosom friend 5. Rachel Lynde e. Marilla’s prized possession 6. The White Way of Delight f. what Anne actually served Diana 7. Diana Barry g. what Anne thought she was serving Diana 8. Matthew Cuthbert h. an expectorant 9. currant wine i. redheaded orphan 10. amethyst brooch j. The Cuthbert’s nosy neighbor

Questions/Activities

1. After you read the book Anne of Green Gables and see The Barter Player’s production of the play, write a paper comparing and contrasting the two. Which did you prefer and why? Which chapters from the book were left out of the play? Why do you think this was done? Working in groups, pick one these

chapters and turn it into a dramatic scene. Write a script, assign the parts, design costumes and props and sound effects, rehearse it and present it to your class. Is it easy to adapt a book or story into a play? Discuss.

Everyone’s A Critic!

2. Write a critique of The Barter Player’s production of Anne of Green Gables. Include the production values (set, costumes, lights, props, sound, etc.), each actor’s performance and the script. What did you like? What didn’t you like? How would you have designed/directed/acted it differently?

“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell

as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a

rose would be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

3. From the moment she arrives in Avonlea, Anne is insistent on renaming places and inanimate things. Barry’s Pond, for example, becomes “The Lake of Shining Waters” and the cherry tree outside her window becomes the “Snow Queen.” Why do you think she does this? Discuss.

ACTIVITY

Make a list of ordinary items in your class room and come up with new, exciting names for them. Read each one out loud to your classmates and see if they can correctly determine the item you have renamed.

4. Why is it so important for Anne to have a dress with puffed sleeves? Why is it so important to Matthew? Why won’t Marilla make one for Anne? Are there any fashion trends today in which you would like to participate that your parent(s) won’t allow? If so, what are they? Discuss.

5. Anne is a remarkably compassionate child and is able to forgive even those who have judged her unfairly, such as Mrs. Rachel Lynde or Mrs. Barry. Why, then, do you think she holds such a grudge against Gilbert Blythe? Discuss.

6. In Chapter 18, Anne to the Rescue, Diana’s little sister comes down with the croup and it’s up to Anne to save her. What is croup? How is it spread? In the book, Anne treated Minnie Mae with ipecac. What is ipecac? How would it help someone with the croup? Do they treat croup any differently today? If so, how? Discuss.

Pick one of the following scenes and rewrite it from the

point of view of the given character:

Scene Point-of-view Anne breaking the slate over Gilbert’s head Mr. Phillips

Diana arriving home intoxicated Mrs. Barry Matthew gives Anne the dress with puffed sleeves Marilla

Read your scene aloud in class then discuss how

point-of-view affects a story.

ORAL PRESENTATION

Pick one of the topics below. Research it thoroughly and, using visual aids, present your findings to the class.

Orphanage system Amethyst

Prince Edward Island

Formal Tea Charlottetown

L.M. Montgomery Cordial

Women’s Fashions 1890’s (puffed sleeves)

Canadian Government

Famous Red-Haired People

Smallpox

7. Locate Prince Edward Island on a map of Canada. Where is it in relation to the capital city of Ottawa? Anne Shirley was put in an orphanage in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Locate Halifax on a map. How far away is it from Cavendish, Prince Edward Island? (Cavendish is the town Avonlea is based upon.) Back in the 1890’s, how would Anne have crossed the Northumberland Strait (the body of water that separates PEI from Nova Scotia)? How would people cross it today?

PERSUADE ME!

Imagine you are Mrs. Barry and Diana has just staggered home intoxicated because Anne accidentally served her currant wine instead of raspberry cordial. Write a letter to the Canadian Prime Minister

persuading him to introduce a bill making currant wine production

illegal. Explain how alcohol has a negative influence on society. Now imagine you are Marilla who makes her currant wine for medicinal reasons. Write a letter persuading the Canadian Prime Minister to

allow the production of currant wine. Explaining how you use it and why it is necessary in medical emergencies.

Compare the two arguments. Whose do you think is the most valid?

Why? Discuss.

Suggested Reading

Other books by L.M. Montgomery:

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of the Island

Anne of Windy Poplars

Anne’s House of Dreams

Anne of Ingleside

Rainbow Valley

Rilla of Ingleside

Emily of New Moon

Emily Climbs

Emily’s Quest

Pat of Silver Bush

Mistress Pat

Other books:

Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings by Mary Henley

Kindred Spirit: A Biography of L. M. Montgomery by Catherine M. Andronik

History of Prince Edward Island by Duncan Campbell

Prince Edward Island Book of Everything: Everything You Wanted to Know About PEI and Were Going to Ask Anyway by Martha Walls

Suggested Links

Tourism Prince Edward Island

http://www.tourismpei.com/index.php3

Anne of Green Gables Museum

http://www.annemuseum.com/index.php