'Anne of Green Gables' actors sorry to leave

After starring in P.E.I.'s beloved Anne of Green Gables musical for years, the production's four lead actors are leaving, but they aren't happy about it.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts previously announced its plans to recast the roles of Anne, Marilla, Matthew and Diana this year — all at the same time. It is the first time so many roles have been recast at once in the summertime musical's 42-year-history.

The four actors say they were dumped from the long-running Charlottetown Festival show, but the artistic directors at the centre say there was mutual agreement that the show would go on without them.

Jennifer Toulmin, who has starred as Anne Shirley for the past four years, said she felt sad when she heard the news and that she is upset the centre is insisting that she and the other actors are willingly leaving the show.

"Unfortunately, that's not what happened," Toulmin told the Charlottetown Guardian this week. "I want the public to know how much I care, how much I love this role and I would happily be returning in three months if I were given the choice, but I wasn't."

However, Toulmin acknowledged that the festival hires actors on contract for a year, with no guarantees that they will be invited to return, and added that it was the standard practice for the industry.

Wade Lynch, associate artistic director of the festival, denied that the four actors were dumped. He said they were all consulted, with Toulmin consulted first. He said all roles are being recast at once because the four make up the "Green Gables family."

The Anne musical also starred Judy Marshak as Marilla Cuthbert, Michael Fletcher as her brother, Matthew, and Heidi Ford as Diana Barry.

Anne Allan, artistic director for the Charlottetown Festival, announced last month that the festival wanted new actors to play the principal roles and that it planned to hold auditions in Toronto from Feb. 20 to 25.