PEI classic: Actor revels in her role in Chemainus Theatre’s Anne

Allison Vail

News Leader Pictorial

Technically, Tamera Broczkowski plays the villain in the latest production from Chemainus Theatre Festival.

At least, she’s a villain as much as a 13 year old girl can be.

Broczkowski plays Josie Pye in Anne, a production of the beloved Canadian classic Anne of Green Gables.

Josie Pye is Anne Shirley’s school girl nemesis, and Broczkowski has no problem delving into the bratty character.

“It’s fun to play the villain and finding the reason why she is the way she is,” Broczkowski said.

Pye, Broczkowski explains, is influenced by her upbringing, and she needs attention.

“She had that before Anne comes into town,” Broczkowski said.

Anne’s arrival doesn’t help Josie’s temperment — instead Josie taunts the girl to walk along the top of a kitchen roof and finds herself in a rivalry for the affections of Gilbert Blythe.

Josie is someone who likes to do what she wants to do, Broczkowski said.

“Anne especially is encouraging of other people’s ideas,” Broczkowski said. “Of course, the little girls in the group take her in.”

Broczkowski said Josie is a smart girl, who figures out people’s weaknesses and pokes at them.

Josie finds herself more and more on the outs.

In the series of novels, the other characters develop and grow, but Josie’s internal character never really changes.

“Everyone else changes and accepts Anne,” Broczkowski said. “But (Josie is) still the one who brings up old wounds.”

Josie never stops making fun of Anne’s blazing read hair, for example.

“Even in the books I think that’s why her life doesn’t turn out that well,” Broczkowski said, noting Josie ends up marrying Moody Sturgeon, who certainly isn’t the catch in town.

Broczkowski and the other actors plying the students have to portray their characters from ages 13 to 17.

“It’s great being the age I am now playing that,” Broczkowski, 29, said. “It’s fun just looking back and remembering. You can always pull ... from your childhood.”

She said it is great playing 13 years old.

“It’s so awkward,” Broczkowski said.

Playing the character as she ages requires some subtle changes.

AS much as 17 is older, it’s not, Broczkowski said, noting she has to try and find moments when the adult façade slips.

Being 13 on stage had some unexpected side effects for the actor, who was last seen in Chemainus in Ah, Wilderness!

“You have that 13-year-old energy,” she said. “I’m so glad to be playing Josie. I’m hoping the audience will really hate me.”

Your ticket

What: Anne

Where: Chemainus Theatre Festival

When: Runs Nov. 12 to Jan. 2.

Tickets: Call 250-246-9820

A Canadian literary legend

Anne, written by Paul Ledoux, is based on the Anne of Green Gables series, first published by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1908.

It is set in the early 1900s.

Anne Shirley is an orphan sent to Green Gables on Prince Edward Island.

Only her adoptive parents, brother and sister team, Marilla and Matthew, don’t want her because she is a boy.

Anne perseveres, eventually winning over nearly everyone in Avonlea with her antics.

Montgomery’s books have sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 20 languages.