Local teacher performs in Rosebud production

Times Reporter

 

Deanne Bertsch has been teaching dance and drama at Strathmore High School (SHS) for a number of years now. When she isn’t teaching SHS students, she’s in Rosebud teaching dance and helping choreograph upcoming performances. In Rosebud Theatre’s summer performance, Anne of Green Gables, Bertsch not only helped choreograph but also has a role in the production. Bertsch plays teacher Miss Stacy, a fairly easy role for her to assume. 

“I can draw from my experience. It is quite fun as I can hear familiar intonations in my voice as I remind students of their behaviour onstage and am striving to get them interested in learning just as I am at SHS,” said Bertsch.  

“I even get to put on a play within a play as Miss Stacy, a pageant about Canadian History written and devised by the students of Avonlea School. I actually did a similar thing with my SHS students in May, White Blank Page, about Canadian soldiers in the first world war, written and devised by the students of SHS.”

Getting the right moves down is vital for any performance, and with the variety of dances within Anne of Green Gables, it took some time to get them all down. 

“We had extra choreography time before actual rehearsals began. We probably spent about 15 hours just working various dances. There is a boot dance, a soft shoe dance, a partial highland fling and a gypsy dance,” said Bertsch. 

Anyone who knows the tale of Anne Shirley, either by reading the books or watching the musical performed on stage, has a part, or maybe a few, that stick out as their favourite. 

“My favourite part of the production is watching the students in their scene with Mr. Phillips. Conrad Belau plays Moody Spurgeon and he is a wonderful, rebellious brat and spits a prune into Mr. Phillips’ hand, rather horrifying and hilarious,” said Bertsch.

“My other favorite part is when Marilla and Matthew both sing “The Words”, they both do such a beautiful job and the song and story surrounding it are heartbreaking and inspiring.”

Bertsch is not scheduled for any other upcoming performances at Rosebud at the moment. Anne of Green Gables began on May 25 and will be on stage until August 25. Tickets are available online at www.rosebudtheatre.com or by calling 1-800-267-7553.