When I arrived at the Stratford Festival in Ontario this year, there was snow on the ground and wreaths on the doors.

In late September.

But it wasn’t because of premature Canadian frost and exuberant holiday cheer. No, a Christmas movie was being filmed in the lovely town that boasts exceptional Shakespeare stagings, modern plays and musicals about 90 minutes from Toronto.

“Merry Christmas!,” a restaurant server greeted me with. Oh, Canada. 9

During this unusually long season at the 72-year-old theatrical institution, though, audiences will likely witness some actual flurries eventually.

The venerable festival’s revival of “Annie” plays well into December — one of spring-and-summer Stratford’s longest runs ever. So the sun will come out tomorrow, albeit for fewer hours.

Direc

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