Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Excursion: Anne & Gilbert – The Musical

The sun was out when I woke up – it looked like a nice day to be outside.  It was nice to have a leisurely late breakfast for a change. 

I was assigned to go with an excursion group to see ‘Anne & Gilbert – The Musical’ which was showing just after midday.  Instead of a bus to take us into town we had a nice ½ hour walk with our guide, Cheryl, who stopped now and then to talk about a historical building or to point out something of interest. 

The musical started on time in a tiny theatre.  There was no stage.  Everything took place on the floor and the theatre chairs were nicely placed, being stepped quite steeply so that everyone could see clearly over each other’s heads or shoulders.  There was a tiny orchestra – pianist, guitarist and violinist.  One of the cast members was also a musician who also played during the musical.  Being a small theatre, the cast was small but they all did very well.  The background on the wall wasn’t painted, instead it was left blank so that a themed backdrop slideshow could change as and when required, e.g. inside a school house or church, or outside in a garden, etc.  Some of the scenery was changed as and when required by being pushed/rolled out along the floor.  Smaller items like tables and chairs were carried by the cast.  The musical was not the Anne of Green Gables story of when she was growing up but rather when she was ‘of age’ and falling in love.  It was a sweet story.

After the concert we had a nice walk back to the ship, including a nice short visit into St Dunstan’s Basilica which was open.  Apparently it is often closed when Cheryl takes her tour groups past there but today it was open and we were fortunate enough to be able to go inside and have a peek.  It was very pretty inside.

This evening, after dinner, Paul and I went to an evening show in the ship’s showroom.  Highlander Michael Adams gave a talk about the Citadel in Halifax – its past history and what it offers to visiting guests at the present time.  He also showed some slides too, which helped to illustrate what he was saying.  There was a bagpiper who played some music for us as well.  Later on the audience were encouraged to ask the Piper and the Highlander questions which were duly answered, either historical or about the bagpipes.  We enjoyed the evening because it was something quite different to the run of the usual shows that we see on the ship.

Time to hit the pillow!

MORE PICTURES

Around and About Charlottetown

The red brick building is the former "Wet Warehouse"

The fish scales are made of teaspoons and dessert spoons

St. Dunstan's Basilica