Once upon a time, in a remote corner of the world, there existed a magical secret garden. This enchanted place was hidden away from the prying eyes of the ordinary world, known only to a select few who carried the knowledge of its existence. It was said that whoever entered this garden would be granted with unimaginable wonders and delights. The entrance to the garden was a well-kept secret, tucked away behind a thicket of thorny bushes that guarded its entrance. Only those with a pure heart and pure intentions could find their way through this maze and lay eyes upon the magical splendor within. Legends spoke of the garden's awe-inspiring beauty, with lush greenery and vibrant flowers that seemed to defy the laws of nature.
They always called it Magic and indeed it seemed like it in the months that followed—the wonderful months—the radiant months—the amazing ones. Oh! The things which happened in that garden! If you have never had a garden you cannot understand, and if you have had a garden you will know that it would take a whole book to describe all that came to pass there. At first it seemed that green things would never cease pushing their way through the earth, in the grass, in the beds, even in the crevices of the walls. Then the green things began to show buds and the buds began to unfurl and show color, every shade of blue, every shade of purple, every tint and hue of crimson. In its happy days flowers had been tucked away into every inch and hole and corner. Ben Weatherstaff had seen it done and had himself scraped out mortar from between the bricks of the wall and made pockets of earth for lovely clinging things to grow on. Iris and white lilies rose out of the grass in sheaves, and the green alcoves filled themselves with amazing armies of the blue and white flower lances of tall delphiniums or columbines or campanulas.
Fair fresh leaves, and buds and buds tiny at first but swelling and working Magic until they burst and uncurled into cups of scent delicately spilling themselves over their brims and filling the garden air. Dickon held his rabbit in his arm, and perhaps he made some charmer s signal no one heard, for when he sat down, cross-legged like the rest, the crow, the fox, the squirrels and the lamb slowly drew near and made part of the circle, settling each into a place of rest as if of their own desire.
Legends spoke of the garden's awe-inspiring beauty, with lush greenery and vibrant flowers that seemed to defy the laws of nature. As one stepped into the garden, they were instantly enveloped in an ethereal atmosphere, where time seemed to stand still, and worries from the outside world melted away. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and the sound of chirping birds created a symphony of nature's melody.
The Magic of “The Secret Garden”
PHOTO: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade | South Pasadena News | Emily Jewel Hoder in the revival production of “The Secret Garden” at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre February 19 through March 26, 2023.
The lush and whimsical score of Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon’s “The Secret Garden” is given a beautiful, new production at the Ahmanson Theatre. Opening night saw an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd of fans of both the original Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel and of the 1991 musical. It’s a rare revival blessed with the brilliant casting of stars Sierra Boggess and Derrick Davis.
PHOTO: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade | South Pasadena News | Emily Jewel Hoder and John-Michael Lyles in the revival production of “The Secret Garden” at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre.
Based on the novel, the musical tells the story of Mary Lennox, a young girl newly orphaned in India during a cholera epidemic. She is sent to live with her troubled, widowed uncle Archibald at his English country estate. He is grieving and haunted by his memories and unable to cope with the illness of his only only son with his beloved Lily. Mary is a strong and feisty girl seeking solace herself which she finds with the housemaid, Martha, and her younger brother, groundskeeper Dickon as she discovers Lily’s secret garden left to wither after her death. The force of Mary’s will and curiosity, along with the magic found in the garden seems to unlock the spell of melancholy that had befallen the home and all of its inhabitants.
It’s a compelling story which the musical turns into a magical tale told in sweeping, operetta style along with playful English folk melodies sung by a sublime cast. They truly are the reason to see this production, specifically Davis and Boggess as Archibald and Lily Craven.
- Advertisement -PHOTO: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade | South Pasadena News | Sierra Boggess and Derrick Davis in the revival production of “The Secret Garden” at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre February 19 through March 26, 2023.
There are two show-stopping, breathtaking songs and both feature the virtuoso, soaring vocals of Davis. “Lily’s Eyes” comes near the end of the first act and is a searing male duet with Davis and a tormented Aaron Lazar as Dr. Neville Craven. The two men sing desperately about the love they both have for the deceased Lily and, as I mentioned, it stops the show. The second song that is truly transcendent comes near the end and is the love duet between Boggess and Davis, “How Could I Ever Know.” It is chill bump inducing and conjures feelings of Phantom – no surprise that Davis has played the Phantom and Boggess is known as one of the best Christines in Phantom history. That number alone is worth the ticket price.
PHOTO: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade | South Pasadena News | Aaron Lazar, Sierra Boggess and Derrick Davis in the revival production of “The Secret Garden” at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre February 19 through March 26, 2023.
Other standouts include a delightfully pixieish performance by John-Michael Lyles as Dickon, and Julia Lester as Martha. Lester brings an authentic earthiness to Martha and has a terrific voice featured in another highlight “Hold On”.
The entire cast is strong with most of them playing the ghosts of Mary’s recent past. Warren Carlyle’s smooth direction and choreography deftly details the action oftentimes with no words. The use of a dancer to represent cholera itself is especially effective.
PHOTO: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade | South Pasadena News | The cast of “The Secret Garden” in the revival production of “The Secret Garden” at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre.
Hats off once again to the terrific accent work, directed by dialect coach Joel Goldes. From the Yorkshire accents and the upper crust British along with the Indian accents carried through into the singing, we are swept up into Mary’s old and new world.
Fans of the original book and this score will have a lot to enjoy. For the uninitiated, I would suggest either reading the book or familiarizing yourself with the story as figuring out who’s who can be a bit confusing at the outset. But once settled in, the performances captivate.
“The Secret Garden” is now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre through March 26, 2023. Tickets are on sale now and start at $40. They will be available through CenterTheatreGroup.org, Audience Services at (213) 972-4400 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Offices (at the Ahmanson Theatre) at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012. Performances run Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
It was a place of tranquility and peace, where the troubles of the world held no power. But the true magic of the secret garden could be found in its ability to grant the deepest desires of those who had found their way inside. Each visitor was faced with a unique challenge, a test of their character, and if they succeeded, they would be rewarded with their heart's greatest wish. It could be a limited wealth, restored health, or even the mending of a broken heart. Yet, the magic of the secret garden came with a warning. It was a fragile realm, easily disturbed by impure intentions or greedy desires. If someone sought to exploit the garden's magic for personal gain or selfish purposes, the garden would retreat, vanishing into thin air, leaving only a memory of its existence. Over the years, tales of the magical secret garden spread far and wide, becoming the stuff of legends and folklore. Many doubted its existence, dismissing it as a mere fairy tale. But for those who had experienced its enchanting embrace, it remained a cherished memory, a reminder that magic can be found in the most unexpected places. And so, the magical secret garden continued to exist, hidden away from the world, waiting for those who had the fortune and purity of heart to stumble upon its hidden entrance. For those fortunate few who found their way inside, the garden offered a sanctuary of magic, where dreams came true and the ordinary became extraordinary..
Reviews for "Finding Solace and Serenity in a Magixal Secret Garden"
- Karen - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magixal Secret Garden". The storyline was predictable and cliché, and the characters were one-dimensional. The magical elements felt forced and unrealistic, and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The writing style was also quite mundane and lacked depth. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and wouldn't recommend this book.
- David - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Magixal Secret Garden". The plot was confusing and all over the place, and the pacing was incredibly slow. The characters were poorly developed, and their actions didn't make any sense. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than being engaged in the story. I honestly don't understand the hype around this book, as it felt like a waste of time.
- Jessica - 2 stars - "Magixal Secret Garden" didn't live up to my expectations. The world-building was weak, and the magical elements weren't well-explained or integrated into the story. The main character lacked depth, and I found it difficult to care about her journey. The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary. Overall, this book had potential, but it failed to deliver a compelling and coherent story.