Road to Avonlea

infobox television
show_name = Road to Avonlea


caption =
format = Drama
runtime = 60 minutes
creator = Kevin Sullivan
supervising producer = Fiona McHugh
starring = Sarah Polley, Jackie Burroughs, Mag Ruffman
country = flagicon|Canada Canada
network = CBC and Disney Channel
first_aired = 1989
last_aired = 1996
num_episodes = 91 + Road to Avonlea Christmas Movie (2000)
website = http://www.roadtoavonlea.com/
imdb_id = 0098900|

"Road to Avonlea" is a television series which was first broadcast in Canada and the United States between 1990 and 1996. It was created by Kevin Sullivan and produced by Sullivan Films (later Sullivan Entertainment) in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Disney Channel, with additional funding from Telefilm Canada. It was adapted from a series of books by L.M. Montgomery, author of "Anne of Green Gables", which Sullivan had previously adapted as "Anne of Green Gables" in 1985 and "" in 1987.

In the United States, its title was shortened to simply "Avonlea", and a number of episodes were re-titled and re-ordered. When the series was released on DVD in the United States, the title changed from "Road to Avonlea" to "Tales from Avonlea".

The series is set in the fictional small town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, in the early 20th century (1907-1914). There, 11-year-old Montreal heiress Sara Stanley (Sarah Polley) is sent by her wealthy father to live with her two maiden aunts, Hetty and Olivia King, to be near her late mother's side of the family. The show's focus shifted over the years from Sara's interactions with her new-found relatives, to stories about the King family. Later seasons of the show focused more on residents of Avonlea who were connected to the King family, and Sarah Polley, who appeared in 6 seasons, and returned for several guest appearances in the 7th season.

Synopsis

In the tradition of Anne of Green Gables comes another chronicle of the journey to adulthood: Road to Avonlea, set again in the Maritime province of Prince Edward Island. The adventure begins in 1903 when a sheltered city girl, Sara Stanley, is transplanted to a rural community to stay with the relatives of her late mother. The town of Avonlea is peopled with unforgettable characters that we come to know and love as much as Sara does. The series follows her story until she "comes of age". Along the way, Sara must prove herself to her cousins before she can feel a sense of belonging with the stable, loving family. As the children become older, the plots of the episodes begin to highlight the blossoming romance between the young adults, Felicity and Gus. This affair of the heart is still of great interest to a wide audience. A multitude of heart-warming stories focuses on the other central characters in the family: the sisters Olivia and Hetty, the King parents and children and some colourful Avonlea fixtures. Of course, the world outside Avonlea encroaches in an entertaining way by providing a diverse parade of visitors to the island. These personalities provide rich opportunities for great adventures. As the series matures and develops, award-winning guests lend their talents to portray these larger-than-life characters; Faye Dunaway, the late Christopher Reeve and Stockard Channing are just a few of the renowned actors who appear in Seasons 2 through 7. Other notable guest stars included: Christopher Lloyd, Michael York, Eugene Levy, Diane Wiest, Shiela McCarthy and Ryan Gosling. Their stories encompass situations that run the gamut from poignant to screwball.

Among the 91 episodes there are many uproarious stories that celebrate childhood and imagination and others that deal in a light-hearted way with the serious subjects of birth, childhood, love, old age and death as experienced by a small North American community during the Edwardian era. Road to Avonlea is "One of the television’s more successful family shows." The long running Canadian saga is regarded as something of an institution. Its sumptuous production values and satisfying story lines continue to captivate new viewers all over the world.

Characters

Major characters

*Sara Stanley (played by Sarah Polley) - Sara is an adventurous eleven year old girl used to fine living in Montreal who learns to adjust to the simpler life in Avonlea. Her mother was Ruth King, sister to Hetty, Alec, Roger and Olivia. When Sara arrives in Avonlea, she lives with her single aunts Hetty and Olivia at Rose Cottage. In the later seasons, Sara is travelling with her Nanny Louisa. (Seasons 1-5) In season 6 Sara returns from her trip with Nanny Louisa. Both Nanny Louisa and Aunt Hetty start planning Sara's future without consulting Sara. Sara, on the other hand, has plans of her own. She yearns to become a writer and has applied at a prestigious writing school in Paris. In the end, Nanny Louisa and Aunt Hetty agree to Sara's wishes. She later returns for Felicity's wedding.
*Hetty King (played by Jackie Burroughs) - Hetty is the staid, humourless, middle-aged schoolteacher of Avonlea and the head of the King family as she was the oldest growing up. She resides at Rose Cottage with her sister, Olivia, and her niece, Sara. In the later seasons, Hetty stops teaching to write. While Sara is in Europe with her nanny, Hetty takes in Mrs. Lynde and the twins Davy and Dora.
*Olivia King (played by Mag Ruffman) - Olivia is Sara's more affectionate, younger aunt and the youngest of her siblings. She later marries Jasper Dale and leaves Rose Cottage. Before her marriage Olivia works as a reporter for the local paper. It is through this job that Olivia becomes close to Jasper Dale because he does the photography for her stories and continues to do so after their marriage. Jasper and Olivia have a son named Montgomery and later adopt a baby girl from one of their employees at the cannery.
*Alec King (played by Cedric Smith) - Alec is Hetty and Olivia's brother and Sara's uncle and the first born son. He is a farmer and lives with his family next door to Rose Cottage at King Farm.
*Janet King (played by Lally Cadeau) - Janet is Alec's loving but independent-minded wife.
*Felicity King (played by Gema Zamprogna) - Felicity is the elder daughter of Alec and Janet. She often insists on taking on adult responsibilities and feels superior to her younger siblings and her cousin Sara. She had three beaux during the course of the series. She eventually chooses Gus Pike and marries him in the series finale. Over the course of the series, Felicity wants to be a wife, a teacher, and a doctor, but eventually runs the Avonlea Foundling Home.
*Felix King (played by Zachary Bennett) - Felix is Alec's and Janet's older son. He is mischievous and often gets into trouble. Felix befriends Izzy (Isolde), the daughter of the new widowed school teacher Mr. Pettibone, who takes over after Hetty retires. In the later seasons, there is the beginning of a romance between Felix and Izzy.
*Cecily King (played by Harmony Cramp and later by Molly Atkinson) - Cecily is the quiet, younger daughter of Alec and Janet. The actress switch occurs after Cecily becomes ill with tuberculosis and goes to a sanitarium in the United States. She is more interested in the farm work than her brother, Felix, and Alec considers leaving the farm to her.
*Gus Pike (played by Michael Mahonen) - Gus is a young vagabond who grows to earn the respect of the townsfolk. (Seasons 2-5) Gus is also a sailor and he leaves Avonlea for a time to find his mother, whom he thought had died long ago. After word of a hurricane, he is presumed dead, but is found by Felicity and Hetty along the Eastern shore of the United States. When they find him he is blind and they bring him back to Canada for surgery to restore his sight. After the surgery, Gus marries Felicity.
*Jasper Dale (played by R.H. Thomson) - Jasper is a shy, stammering photographer and inventor who eventually marries Olivia. Jasper and Olivia buy the local cannery in the later seasons, which in the final season catches fire and burns down.

Minor characters

*Rachel Lynde (played by Patricia Hamilton) - Rachel is the local busybody and self-appointed moral guardian of Avonlea. Her character originally appeared in "Anne of Green Gables"
*Marilla Cuthbert (played by Colleen Dewhurst) - Marilla is Rachel's more tolerant best friend. She is also a character brought back from "Anne of Green Gables". (Seasons 1-3: character passes away after the actress's death in 1991)
*Muriel Stacey (played by Marilyn Lightstone) - Muriel is a schoolteacher and a rival of Hetty. The two women are true polar opposites. Her character also originally appeared in "Anne of Green Gables"
*Andrew King (played by Joel Blake) - Andrew is another King cousin sent to live on King Farm at the same time as Sara in Seasons 1 and 2. His father is Roger King, Hetty and Alec's younger brother. Roger and Ruth were born one year apart, to the day.
*Peter Craig (played by Miklos Perlus) - Peter is a hired hand about Sara's age. The son of Maud Craig, he works at the farm in the first season.
*Peg Bowen (played by Susan Cox) - Peg is a recluse and herbalist who is thought of as the witch of Avonlea.Notable guest stars on the show included Jonathan Crombie, Diana Rigg, Faye Dunaway, Shirley Douglas, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Christopher Reeve, Stockard Channing, Michael York, and Kyle Labine.

Locations

The "Road to Avonlea" set was created 15 minutes outside Leaksdale, Ontario, Canada (the town where Lucy Maude Montgomery lived and wrote for a decade after moving from Prince Edward Island). The town of "Avonlea" was adapted from existing buildings and roads were painted red to emulate the red sand of the Island.Photography and enhanced digital matter work married second unit scenes of Prince Edward Island with the Leaksdale location where necessary.

Awards and Nominations

During Road to Avonlea's seven-year run, it had won and was nominated for numerous awards worldwide.
*4 Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Dramatic Series (Christopher Lloyd), 1992; Best Children's Program, 1993; Best Costume Design, 1995; Outstanding Guest Actress in a Dramatic Series (Dianne Wiest), 1997.
*16 Emmy Nominations
*4 CableAce Awards: Best Dramatic Series, 1991; Best Dramatic Series, 1993; Best Dramatic Series, 1994; Best Writing in a Dramatic Series (Heather Conkie)
*17 CableAce Nominations
*18 Gemini Awards: Best Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Lead Actress (Jackie Burroughs), 1990; Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Lead Actress (Jackie Burroughs), 1991; Best Leading Actor (Cedric Smith), Best Guest Performance in a Series (Kate Nelligan), Best Direction in a Series (Allan King), 1992; Best Actress (Jackie Burroughs), 1993; Best Guest Performance in a Series (Bruce Greenwood), Best Original Score, Best Actress (Lally Cadeau), 1994; Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Hamilton), Best Original Score, 1995; Best Supporting Actress (Kay Tremblay), Best Guest Actress (Frances Bay), Best Original Score, 1996.
*6 Gemini Nominations
*3 John Labatt Classic Awards For Most Popular Program in Canada (chosen by the public), 1990, 1991 and 1992

External links

* [http://www.roadtoavonlea.com Road to Avonlea] - Official website
*imdb title|id=0098900|title=Road to Avonlea
* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/R/htmlR/roadtoavonl/roadtoavonl.htm Museum of Broadcast Communications information on "Road to Avonlea"]
* [http://www.avonleaguide.com AvonleaGuide.com] - fansite
* [http://www.avonleatreasures.com AvonleaTreasures] - fansite
* [http://avonlea.hu The Golden Road to Avonlea] - fansite
* [http://www.ultimatedisney.com/avonlea-season1.html Season 1 DVD Review]
* [http://lmmresearch.org/filmography/rta-1990 Road to Avonlea] section of [http://lmmresearch.org/ The L.M. Montgomery Research Group]