Review: THE SECRET GARDEN Enchants at Center Stage

If you dream to escape grey November days, go see THE SECRET GARDEN at Center Stage, where spring blooms from the pages of the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic. This enchanting production is exceptionally well-cast and beautifully staged.

The year is 1906 and Mary Lennox (Caitlin Cohn) has been orphaned in India during a cholera epidemic. Mary is a "sour" child. Ignored by her socialite mother, Rose (Jessica Van Kipp), and father, Captain Albert Lennox (Dan Beckmann), Mary was looked after by her Indian caregivers, Fakir and Ayah (Vishal Vaidya and Anita Vasan). They,too, are gone, and the only person she has left in the world is her Uncle Archibald (Kevin Earley), who is consumed by the loss of his angelic wife, Lily (Brandi Burkhardt). Mary goes to live at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, England. It is a place of shadows and ghosts, but the lonely child finds support in the devoted household staff: optimistic chambermaid Martha (Charlotte Maltby), no nonsense housekeeper Mrs. Medlock (Gayton Scott), and constant gardener Ben Weatherstaff (Dathan B. Williams).

Mary befriends Martha's brother, Dickon (Cameron Bartell), who has a magic way with nature and animals. He helps her find the key to a hidden garden on the manor grounds. Abandoned and overgrown, Mary makes it her purpose to bring it back to life.

Inside the gloomy house, Mary makes another discovery. Cloistered away in a forbidden wing, she finds her cousin, Colin (Anthony Frederickson). Sickly and spoiled, he is bedridden and tended to by Archibald's brother, Dr. Neville Craven (Adam Monley), who harbored a secret love for Lily.

Just as Mary's new life and friendships are threatened, happiness finds a way to bring light back to Misselthwaite.

Cohn is the perfect Mary Lennox, willful, winsome and wonderfully talented. With remarkable vocal range and perceptive acting ability, she hits all the notes of this complicated character. If Mary is the anti-heroine protagonist, then Lily Craven is the classic heroine of this version. Burkhardt is radiant in voice and spirit as Lily, who haunts the hearts and home of those she left behind. It is only when they embrace her spirit with joy instead of bitterness that life returns to the manor. As Archibald Craven, Earley is as brooding and passionate as any Bronte hero replete with a looming 100-room mansion.

The music and lyrics by Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman are nice enough, but they require a uniquely talented ensemble to bring them to life. This particular evening, every member of the cast must have been in the performance zone. Some other standouts include Monley as the conflicted Dr. Craven and Maltby as the good-hearted Martha. To round out the trio of youthful Victorians, Bartell is charming as nature-boy Dickon whose modern counterpart would probably be a vegan tree-house-building hipster; Frederickson is ideal as rich-kid Colin whose current persona would likely be entitled selfie-taking tween with multiple food allergies.

Director and choreographer, Marcia Milgrom Dodge maintains the essence of the story while staging it for the modern audience. Set designer, Narelle Sissons, follows this idea with creatively imagined backdrops. Having seen excerpts from other productions where the clothing was both distracting and unflattering, a special commendation goes to Leon Wiebers, whose striking costumes add significantly to the quality of this theatrical experience. As tragedy transforms to joy, so do the characters and their environment. Children will see the magic, while adults can appreciate the honest portrayal of life and death. More than a few audience members shed tears over the bittersweet conclusion that sometimes the best way to honor those we have lost is to learn to live again.

THE SECRET GARDEN plays now through November 29th at Center Stage, located at 700 N. Calvert St. Baltimore MD 21202. For more information, call (410)332-0033 or go to www.centerstage.org

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