Heather Prisk portrays L.M. Montgomery in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Heather Prisk portrays L.M. Montgomery in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Stumbling through youth at ‘Green Gables’

Kenai Performers brings classic coming-of-age tale to the stage

The Kenai Performers’ latest production, “Anne of Green Gables,” opens this weekend and will run 12 shows across three weeks.

The show follows the titular Anne “with an e,” an 11-year-old orphan girl who is brought to Green Gables by the Cuthberts, an older sibling pair who decide to adopt a boy to help out on their farm.

Director Terri Burdick said “Anne of Green Gables” is a great show for younger audiences. The cast is predominantly filled with young actors, and the show runs only around 90 minutes, broken up with an intermission.

Truly Hondel is taking on the leading role of Anne Shirley.

“She’s an orphan girl with red hair — which she gets made fun of for — she’s sent to Green Gables to belong to Marilla and Matthew, but they were expecting a boy,” Hondel said. “She’s a good little girl, and no matter how many mistakes she makes, she always fixes them.”

Hondel said she could relate to Anne because they’re both talkative. She also enjoys that the character uses lots of big words.

Jackson Hooper, who plays “annoying schoolboy” Gilbert Blythe, said the production gives him a chance to portray growth.

“I like the fact that he changes throughout the story,” he said.

Gilbert is introduced as something of a bully when Anne goes to school, but Hooper said he ends up spending much of the show trying to apologize for his transgressions.

Change and growth are key themes in “Anne of Green Gables.” Donna Shirnberg, who plays Marilla Cuthbert, one of the siblings who adopt Anne, said she goes through a similar transformation.

“She’s very strict, she has no tolerance, but in the end she becomes very kind and loves Anne.”

Shirnberg said Anne drives the characters and personalities around her to grow, via “a contagious spark.”

Marilla has to “think outside of the box, to have things that have never happened to her, that she would never think of doing,” she said. “All of a sudden she has this little person she’s responsible for, and in the end, they’re very connected.”

Marilla’s brother Matthew is portrayed by Todd Sherwood, who said he was excited to be a part of the show because it’s “just one of those classics.”

Sherwood said Matthew is shy, something that he doesn’t share with the character. Despite that, Sherwood said there was a lot of connection to be found in the fatherly bond Matthew has with Anne, something he pulled from his own experience with two daughters now grown.

“There’s some real emotional notes about family and unity and coming together as a community, and I hope that’s what people see in this,” he said. “There’s a lesson there about how to live together as people.”

“Anne of Green Gables” is based on a series of books written by author L.M. Montgomery. The author is present throughout the play as a narrator, describing the characters she’s writing and even titling the chapters of the novel.

In the role of Montgomery is Heather Prisk, who said she hadn’t even intended to audition at first.

“I read the opening scene with (Montgomery’s) narration, and something just clicked,” Prisk said. “I also want to be an author, and the way the words were written resonated with me. This want of ‘I have this really cool story to tell and I want to share it with you.’”

Prisk said this play is interesting because it integrates the author into the text, though she said that in any story, the author is always present.

“You can disguise that they’re there. But they’re the ones who are really propelling the story and making these characters come to life.”

“Anne of Green Gables” will be presented Nov. 3-6, 10-13 and 17-20. The Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will be at 7 p.m., while Sundays will be a matinee at 2 p.m. Thursday showings are being dubbed “Student Thursdays,” and will feature half-price tickets and a 15-minute lecture preceding the show. Tickets can be purchased online at kenaiperformers.org. More information about the show or about the Kenai Performers can be found on their Facebook page.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley and Todd Sherwood portrays Matthew Cuthbert in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley and Todd Sherwood portrays Matthew Cuthbert in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

From left, Donna Shirnberg portrays Marilla Cuthbert, Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley, and Todd Sherwood portrays Matthew Cuthbert in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

From left, Donna Shirnberg portrays Marilla Cuthbert, Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley, and Todd Sherwood portrays Matthew Cuthbert in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jackson Hooper, as Gilbert, taunts Truly Hondel, as Anne, in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jackson Hooper, as Gilbert, taunts Truly Hondel, as Anne, in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Truly Hondel portrays Anne Shirley in a rehearsal of “Anne of Green Gables” at the Kenai Performers Black Box Theatre in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

More in Life

"Octopus" is an acrylic painting by new co-op member Heather Mann on display at Ptarmigan Arts in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Ptarmigan Arts
July First Friday in Homer

Homer’s galleries and public art spaces celebrate with new and ongoing exhibits.

Frank Rowley and his youngest child, Raymond, stand in knee-deep snow in front of the protective fence around the main substation for Mountain View Light & Power in Anchorage in 1948 or ’49. This photo was taken a year or two before Rowley moved to Kenai to begin supplying electrical power to the central peninsula. (Photo courtesy of the Rowley Family)
Let there be light: The electrifying Frank Rowley — Part 2

In July 1946, the soft-spoken Rowley was involved in an incident that for several consecutive days made the front page of the Anchorage Daily Times.

This nostalgic sauce is so shockingly simple, you’ll never buy a bottle again. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
America’s favorite culinary representative

The original recipe for ranch dressing was invented and perfected in Alaska, out in the bush in 1949.

Graphics show the nine finalists in three age groups for the Soldotna “I Voted” sticker design contest. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna announces finalists for ‘I Voted’ sticker contest

Public voting will be open until July 20 to determine the winners.

Homer’s Cosmic Creature Club performs at the 2024 Concert on the Lawn at Karen Hornaday Park. (Emilie Springer/Homer News file)
July events to provide entertainment and fun on lower Kenai Peninsula

Events include the Highland Games, Concert on the Lawn, local art camps and the Ninilchik Rodeo.

Nick Varney
Unhinged Alaska: Flashback dreams and the cold sweats

When summer arrives, every personage in the known cosmos suddenly seems to remember that they have kindred living in Alaska.

File
Minister’s Message: Freedom is not what you think

If freedom isn’t what we first think it is, what is it?

This is the Kenai Power complex. The long side of the plant faces the Frank Rowley home, seen here at the right side of the photograph. (Photo courtesy of the Rowley Family)
Let there be light: The electrifying Frank Rowley — Part 1

Frank Rowley made one of the most important steps toward modernization in the history of Kenai.

”Thread of Light” is an acrylic painting done this year by Dan Coe on display through June at the Art Shop Gallery in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting
Fine art in invented spaces

Anchor Point artist showcases his skills with exhibit of acrylic paintings.

A variety of peony blooms grow vibrantly on Pioneer Avenue on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
6th annual Peony Celebration begins July 1

The festival will run in Homer through Aug. 17.

This cake stacks colored crepes for a brilliant rainbow breakfast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Crepes of a different color

This rainbow cake celebrates Pride with layers of colored crepes.