The Yorkshire Moors Turn Up On Candlelight Stage In Elegant Production

Reviewed by Tom Jones
April 19, 2024

Mary Lennox is a spunky 11-year-old whose life turns upside down in just a few hours. She is living with her adoring parents on assignment to India, and wakes up one morning to learn that both her parents died the previous night in the cholera epidemic. She is sent to dreary Yorkshire, England to live with an uncle Archibald she has never met, and Archibald’s brother, Dr. Craven. The uncle Archibald is not a delightful, cheery chap, but rather a cold unhappy man whose young son, Colin, appears to be hidden away in the manor house and slowly dying. Colin’s mother, Lily, died giving birth to him several years ago. Archibald, a hunchback, wants to be outwardly cordial to the orphaned Mary, but is so consumed by the death of his wife that he is of no help to anyone. There appears to be unhappiness everywhere in the home, with the lurking ghosts of the past affecting everyone except for Archibald’s brother, Dr. Craven, who apparently wants everyone else out of the house so that he can have it to himself.,

This doesn’t sound like a good premise to base an evening of musical theater. But amazingly, it is a joyous portrayal of how kindness, perseverance and incredible music can overcome nearly everything.

 

The resourceful Mary Lennox realizes dreadful unhappiness is consuming the manor house and decides to do something about it. She develops a friendship with the crippled son, Colin, who tells her of a secret garden surrounded by a wall near the manor house. This wall is reportedly hiding the garden which was the delight of Lily before she died. The garden is off limits until Mary convinces a bird to help her find the key and the entrance to the garden. She rallies the estate gardener, Ben, the estate handyman, Dickon and his sister, Martha, to hopefully bring the dormant and nearly dead garden back to life. She rallies the crippled Colin to get out of bed, on his feet, and help others, instead of continually being in need himself.

The role of Mary Lennox is shared on alternating performances. Elinor Rodgers and Alianna Glorioso take turns portraying the orphan Mary. Oliver Harrelson and Gus Gaza alternate as Archibald’s ill son, Colin. I saw Elinor Rodgers as Mary and Oliver Harrelson as Colin. Both are excellent. They are both young and have stage presence of experienced performers, and super voices to match.

Patric Case and Scott Severtson portray the Craven brothers, Archibald and Dr. Neville. They are a duo to see and hear. Archibald is haunted with memories of his wife. His unhappy brother, Dr. Neville Craven, continues to rue the day Archibald married the beautiful Lily, who he also loved. The embittered brothers share one of the most glorious duets in my musical memory, “Lily’s Eyes.” They recount how the newly-arrived young Mary Lennox appears to have the same glorious hazel eyes as the beautiful, now deceased, Lily, who both brothers loved, and was married to just one – the hunchback Archibald.

Sounds a tad complicated. I first saw the show when it was in previews on Broadway many years ago. We did not have good seats and were somewhere in the high nosebleed section of the theater. On leaving the theater, one of the people with us commented, “Well that show sure isn’t going anywhere.” I felt otherwise. Even though we had dreadful seats and were confused by portrayals of the living, mixed with spirits of the dead, I was enchanted by the beautiful music.

This time around, Director Shelly Gaza has wisely divided the scenes of the living, with scenes of the spirits carefully placed in the huge frame at the back of the stage. This does wonders for telling the story.

Maryann Laurie is mesmerizing as the spirit of Lily. It is Lily’s garden that Mary Lennox and her newly-found friends are trying to bring back to life. It is Laurie as Lily who warmly invites everyone to ”Come to My Garden.” Jazz Mueller is terrific as Martha’s brother Dickon who is an estate handyman and local mystic. Chas Lederer puts common sense to work as Ben, the estate’s groundskeeper. Many in the excellent cast play more than one role. The orchestra, under direction of Katie Hughes has never sounded better. The set design, lighting, sound, choreography and costume design are all flawless.

The story is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett which was a must-read read for young readers. Book and lyrics for the musical are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon. It opened on Broadway in April, 1991, and ran for 709 performances. It received numerous awards and has been produced worldwide.

Music is not well known, but enthralling. In addition to the over-the-top “Lily’s Eyes,” other great moments are created with “A Girl in the Valley,” “A Bit of Earth,” and “Race You to the Top of the Morning.” This is just about as romantic as a story can be. It is breathtaking to see and to hear. Near show’s end the Archibald and the ghost of his beautiful wife, Lily meet in a fog of brilliance and sing of their continuing love, “How Could I Ever Know” – just about as dramatic and enchanting as anything the stage can provide. “The Secret Garden” is a story of healing, helping and love.

“The Secret Garden”
Through June 16, 2024
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
4747 Marketplace Drive
Johnstown,, CO 80534
Box Office 970/744-3747
Online: www.coloradocandlelight.com