Rutland Teacher Brings Lessons Of Canfield Fisher Book To Stage

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(Host) Dorothy Canfield Fisher is well known to most Vermont school children for the book awards given in her honor.   

But kids in Vermont may be less familiar with the books Canfield Fisher wrote herself – like her 1917 novel, Understood Betsy.   

As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, a high school drama instructor in Rutland hopes to change that.

(Keck) Jennifer Bagley says she first read Understood Betsy many years ago when she was a young girl growing up in Wisconsin.

(Bagley) "And I was trying to think of another classic Vermont story that I could adapt for the stage. So I went to the library last year to get it thinking, well, it will be dated, it won’t be very well written, I don’t really want to do this.  And I read it all over again and it was just wonderful."

(Keck) Dorothy Canfield Fisher wrote Understood Betsy in 1917.   It’s the story of a sheltered, nine-year-old girl named Elizabeth Ann, who’s been raised by over protective aunts in the midwest.  

(Bagley) "It’s the story of a pampered, timid little city girl who learns what it’s like to be a Vermonter and who becomes a Vermonter.  And she’s foisted upon her Vermont relatives when her regular guardians become ill.   And all she knows about them is that they’re terrible people who make children do chores."

(Keck) Chores are not something the young girl has ever had to do. But when she arrives in Vermont, all that changes.  Her relatives call her Betsy and expect her to do for herself as well as pitch in around the house.   Jennifer Bagley says she got permission from Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s granddaughter, to adapt the story for the stage.

(Stage) "I  wonder if you can guess the name of a little girl – who about a month after this was walking in the woods all by herself – yes all by herself.  And yet, not a bit afraid.  You don’t’ suppose it could be Elizabeth Ann?. . .(fade under)

(Bagley) "And so we see this transformation from a little, timid, is afraid to walk down the street by herself, afraid of her own shadow, to this self reliant, confident little girl. And she’s very well loved by these three relatives although they’re reticent Vermonters – they don’t show it necessarily right away. She has to earn their respect, which is a distinctive Vermont thing I think."

(Keck) Jennifer Bagley says seeing the story brought to life on stage made her realize that the story and values Dorothy Canfield Fisher wrote about over 90 years ago are still cherished today.   

For VPR News, I’m Nina Keck in Rutland.

(Host) Understood Betsy will be performed at Mount St. Joseph’s Academy in Rutland Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm. A Friday Matinee will also be performed.  

 

 

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