She called her grandparents first.
Jessie Cox knew they adored Prince Edward Island and Lucy Laud Montgomery’s 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables.
So to hear their granddaughter break the news that she had been cast as Anne Shirley’s most kindred spirit in the 2015 Charlottetown Festival was certainly a thrill.
This summer, her grandfolks, parents, aunt and friends will be in the audience at the Confederation Centre as the Pinetree secondary graduate (2010) portrays the romantic Diana Barry — a role perfected by Schuyler Grant in the 1985 CBC mini-series. (This year’s production will be bittersweet given the unexpected death last month of Jonathan Crombie, the CBC actor who played Gilbert Blythe).
Cox auditioned for the part of Diana in Toronto, after fellow Sheridan College grad — and PEI native — Jessica Gallant had been cast in the starring role.
She found out she would portray the character while performing in Calgary last November. “I was very lucky,” she said from PEI last Thursday. “You don’t usually know that far in advance.”
Cox arrived in Charlottetown on her birthday May 10 and went into rehearsals the next day.
Since then, the cast of 26 has been working on the show six days a week, eight hours a day “with an hour for lunch.”
Anne of Green Gables — The Musical goes into previews June 11 and runs Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Saturday nights; on the other days, Cox is in the ensemble of Alice Through the Looking-Glass, also at Confederation Centre.
With a new director on board, the 51st season of Anne of Green Gables will be somewhat different from previous years.
The script and blocking are slightly adjusted “so we get to play a lot more,” Cox said. “I can bring a lot of me into the character and how I see Diana.”
As well, viewers will notice the characters age two years at the start of Act 2.
“They’re not just kids anymore. They’re looking toward adulthood. It’s nice to see how they grow through the play.”
Still, visitors who have seen the musical each season will notice many regulars on stage.
Glenda Landry, who portrayed Diana Barry in 1971 and for the next 20 years, is back for the 2015 production as the gossipy neighbour, Rachel Lynde.
For Cox, Anne of Green Gables is her fifth stage show. After graduating from Sheridan in 2013 with an advanced diploma in musical theatre performance, she was an orphan in Annie at Young People’s Theatre in Toronto; a daughter in Fiddler on the Roof with Stage West in Calgary; Mallory/Avril in City of Angels in Barrie, Ont.; and in Naughty But Nice! with Forte Musical Theatre Guild in Calgary.
She’s grown strong roots in Canada. “I personally don’t have much drive to go down to the [United] States because I feel like what we’re doing up here is very unique,” she said. “I appreciate our theatre and musical theatre. I’m seeing a lot of the country, going from coast to coast.”
As for her plans after the Charlottetown run ends Aug. 29, Cox said she’ll take a break and travel Europe for six weeks.
• To see Jessie Cox in action, visit charlottetownfestival.com
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@jwarrenTC
