By Ben Nielsen
After a recent string of relatively traditional productions, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society emerge from the mothballs with a more contemporary family favourite, The Secret Garden.
Eleven year old Mary Lennox is orphaned after a cholera outbreak, and is sent from India to England to live with unknown relatives. She finds a secret garden and sets about restoring it to its former glory, mistakenly unearthing the ghosts of the past.
Director Richard Trevaskis does not ride complacently atop his star studded cast. Despite boasting the acclaimed Carolyn Ferrie and Mark Oates in lead roles, the production maintains substance amongst the spectacle. It is a sympathetic and captivating portrayal of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s tale.
Ferrie reprises the role of Lily Craven, having already performed opposite Anthony Warlow in the original Australian production. The role is mesmerising and exhibits Ferrie’s hauntingly beautiful vocals. As always, Mark Oates (Archibald Craven) is outstanding. ‘Lily’s Eyes’, sung with onstage brother Andrew Crispe (Dr Neville Craven) is truly uplifting.
Holding the production together is thirteen year old Nadia Barrow, giving a hearty performance as Mary Lennox. Harry Fiedler is wonderfully comedic as sickly Colin Craven. Much future success surely awaits these youngsters.
Sarah Nagy and Ian Andrew are notable, but there are really too many great performances to mention. Frankly, it would be difficult to name a recent community theatre cast of greater aptitude.
Making his debut as musical director, Daniel Brunner’s orchestra is slick. A pit orchestra with a capable oboist and a triumphant horn section is certainly worthy of praise. However, it is hard not to lament the absence of real strings (replaced by their synthesised counterpart), and the slightly less than impressive overture.
The minimal set did not greatly hinder the story’s portrayal, although an elaborate design may have been more aesthetically pleasing. The lighting design was quite a highlight, with an unexpected surprise atop the auditorium ceiling. Despite several missed sound cues, and a hastily lowered scrim curtain, the show was technically well handled.
Kryztoff Rating 3.5K
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