The Secret Garden

This Christmas, the Festival Theatre brings Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s tale of grief, magic and miracles to the stage. Directed by Anna Linstrum, with music and lyrics by Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, The Secret Garden is a remarkably faithful adaption of the original book and captures the essence that has ensured it remains a timeless favourite nearly a century after its first publication.

Recently orphaned after an outbreak of cholera in India, the sour heroine, Mary Lennox (Sophie Kavanagh) arrives at her uncle’s house on the Yorkshire moors. A world away from her privileged and exotic upbringing, she is confronted by a lonely house, governed by the grief of her distant uncle (Caspar Phillipson). Left to her own devices and encouraged by the house staff she discovers the key to a secret walled garden, which begins to bring the garden, and consequently the household itself, back to life.

Kavanagh, as Mary Lennox, adeptly leads the cast and perfectly captures the stand-offish heroine, supported particularly well by Phillipson as her grief stricken uncle. Special mention should also be made of the set and choreography, both of which in their intricacy and execution add a particular richness to the production.

The continued presence on stage of the dead that so impact on the lives of these characters is particularly effective, especially as it allows for the contrast with Mary’s Indian childhood to be drawn. This interaction between the living and the dead, the past and the present, is where the musical aspect really comes into its own. Haunting and beautiful, the sound track complements the poignancy of the story.

However, at some stages there seems to be an unnecessary reliance upon song to communicate the plot where dialogue may have been more effective. With quite a heavy emphasis on the adult issues that underpin the story, the production leans towards the darker aspects of the tale, encapsulated by the Gothic house that dominates the set. This arguably renders this version not overly suitable for younger children. Although it does stand as a strong example for how to incorporate more serious themes into children’s theatre. In all, this is an engrossing and visually rich production that would serve as an excellent festive treat for the whole family.