Beware of Anne of Green Gables

A few weeks ago we took the kids to see Anne of Green Gables at the Meadowvale Theatre in Mississauga. We had hoped to see the musical in PEI this past summer but we were not in PEI long enough to catch a show. I thought Aidan would enjoy the story and Maya would enjoy the music. I had remember enjoying the series of books about Anne and her antics when I was a child. Although I vaguely recalled that Anne was adopted, I didn't remember anything negative about the story.

Well... much to my horror... the first 40 minutes of the musical could be described as orphan bashing. Thankfully Maya is too young to understand. There were several scenes where her parents-to-be lament (often in front of her) that she is not want they wanted - as they had requested a boy. They then try to return her to the orphanage. They later try to take her to another potential home, where the mother is very abusive. Fortunately they decide to keep Anne rather than have her live with this awful family. Then there is another famous scene where Anne attends school in the town for the first time and is called "Carrots" because of her red hair. She bonks Gilbert with her slate and then the following scene is full of the townspeople exaggerating the story and basically saying Anne is no good because she has lived in an orphanage. EEK!!!

As I said, Maya didn't seem to get what was happening and happily danced in the aisles to the music. But I thought I would warn others out there to think twice about seeing this play with an older adopted child.

It may have also been this particular production's interpretation. I must look up my old books and see if they paint such a negative portrayal of orphans.

Anyway, be forewarned....