For the diverse cast of Anne of Green Gables, seizing the historic moment is everything

Kelsey Verzotti was as soon as advised by a instructor she could by no means play Anne Shirley on the Charlottetown Pageant as a result of she’s not white.

Listening to that was a pivotal second in her younger profession, Verzotti says.

“Oh I am unable to be in a present due to the best way I look? Due to my race and my tradition?” she recollects considering on the time.

“I do not forget that second being very defining for me on this trade.”

A fireplace was lit underneath her, not solely to show the naysayers incorrect however to earn a task like that and turn into the function mannequin she needed to be for teenagers like her who have been advised they could not do it. 

It did not take her lengthy both. This summer time Verzotti, who’s half-Chinese language, is the headliner: taking up the most important function within the largest present of the Charlottetown Pageant — on some of the iconic levels within the nation in some of the storied musicals ever made.

Decided, fiery, excited, adventurous — she is each bit Anne Shirley. 

“To be a task mannequin to younger children who go see the present, and households, it is actually particular,” she mentioned. “I am wanting ahead to absorbing each minute of it.”

‘We’re gorgeous’

Verzotti is amongst a diverse cast of actors in Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, and it is one thing she’s immensely proud to see and be part of.

“After I have a look at our solid, like, we’re gorgeous. It is every kind of folks that possibly have been advised they’d by no means be in a present like this, I do know I used to be, and so it feels full circle to really be right here and be doing the work,” she mentioned. 

“It is going to imply a lot to individuals who come to see the present who possibly do not at all times see themselves represented on stage.”

This illustration is the best way it needs to be, because the Confederation Centre of the Arts’ creative director Adam Brazier will inform you. The fictional world of Avonlea — the quaint setting of Anne’s tales — needs to be a mirrored image of Prince Edward Island.

“The face of P.E.I., at this time, may be very totally different than it was in 1908 and the face of Canada may be very totally different,” he mentioned.

“This is an iconic Canadian story, it needs to be reflective of the face of Canada.”

‘It brings lots of hope to myself’

Justin Eddy is a Chinese language-Canadian actor from London, Ont., and he is taking up the function of Gilbert Blythe.

Strolling via the halls backstage and seeing footage from previous Anne productions, Eddy displays on the solid and crew who’ve come and gone — a few of whom he’d come to know from levels elsewhere in Canada, who pointed him to auditioning for the pageant.

His image shall be on that wall sometime too, and he is aware of how vital this second shall be for theatre-goers younger and outdated to see themselves represented and mirrored on stage. 

“Rising up I did not have lots of [representation], and seeing an Asian individual like myself enjoying that kind of function. So for me it is tremendous vital for the younger people watching to see themselves recognized on stage and to say ‘Sure, I can do this too,'” Eddy mentioned.

“It is nice that we’re from throughout Canada and that we have all come collectively in a single spot … joined collectively within the telling of this story.”

Nadia Haddad was born and raised on P.E.I. She’s visited Avonlea Village, she’s learn the books, she’s seen the musical many occasions. For her, Anne has “simply at all times been round.”

Now, she is enjoying Prissy Andrews within the musical.

“I’ve at all times dreamt of someday being on the stage, however I did not know the chance would come so quickly in my profession, so it is truthfully been such a blessing,” she mentioned. “I am so excited.”

Like Verzotti and Eddy, Haddad mentioned the various solid is monumental for youngsters and younger actors who can lastly see themselves on stage. 

“The solid this 12 months is simply so fantastically numerous, which is so heartwarming to see,” she mentioned. “That is what our on a regular basis appears to be like like, proper now in 2022, it has been wanting like this so it is good to have that replicate on stage.

“For myself, you realize, being a Center Japanese illustration on stage is absolutely beautiful to see, as a result of that is not one thing I see so much both, so it brings lots of hope to myself.”

‘She’s simply radiant’

Emma Rudy was the final to play Anne Shirley (in 2019) earlier than the pandemic washed the musical away the previous two seasons.

However she’s again too, and this time enjoying Diana — Anne’s buddy and confidant. Rudy and Verzotti go method again, having attended theatre faculty collectively in the identical class, so there is a particular chemistry between them already.

“She’s simply radiant,” Rudy mentioned about Verzotti. “Islanders are going to fall in love together with her the best way that I’ve as an individual anyway, however as Anne she’s unbelievable.”

Rudy is proud, too, to see her buddy champion a various solid, and mentioned she hopes this stage of illustration on the Centre shall be right here to remain.

“I am grateful to be part of it and to look at so many individuals make historical past on that stage. It is one thing that I do know shall be, however I hope to be continued endlessly.”

The season has begun and can run into September, and Verzotti is able to carry the magical world of Avonlea alive for theatre-goers via the beloved character of Anne.

“I will attempt my finest to be as within the second as I can and be taught from all these unbelievable individuals I get to work with on a regular basis,” she mentioned.

“Hopefully in flip might help unfold a little bit of that pleasure to the Island.”