SECRET GARDEN experiences

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 3:01pm

So, maybe you remember when I asked about SECRET GARDEN about a few weeks back. We had our auditions, which went pretty well & callbacks (got callback for Ben) but I got the role of Major Holmes, which is one of the main "Dreamers" whose from Mary's past and sings quite abit. I'm just wondering if anyone else has been in this show and/or were Major Holmes. Just wondering. We've been doing songs all week, which is pretty good. But still. I wanted to know how people felt doing this show.

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:14pm

I was Ben in my High School's production of SG. It was a good experience although I was only onstage in like 4 scenes. I liked the show as a whole and I got to help choreograph my friends dance number for Winter's on the Wing, which was actually one of the best parts of the show. Have fun with the show.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:26pm

Sorry, I was never in the show but congratulations and good luck!

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:42pm

I did this show about 10 years ago as the Fakir. This is one of my favorite shows and the "Dreamers" are the best part of the show. The music is beautiful, I love singing all those gorgeous harmonies and it's cool because each character has their own musical line in the score. And each dreamer gets their moment in the spotlight.

I also saw the first national tour and couldn't wait to do this show and be one of the ghosts. Hope your experience is just as great!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 10:46pm

Its pretty great thus far. We chorgraphed the DROP THE HANKERCHIEF game and it was pretty amazing. I die third, but I don't truly die till after my scene. I walk out patting my face then when Me & the boy who plays Wright meet Alice & Clarie for THERE'S A GIRL--PART 1, wer'e officially dead. I love it. Major Holmes is so much more amazing than anything I've ever played. I'm in love with this show.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:54am

I'm playing Archibald in a production that opens next Thursday in Pittsburgh. It was never my favorite show, but it is quite good.

I think that Marsha Norman did an excellent job adapting it and her lyrics are surprisingly good.

There are a few things that few things that a more experienced lyricist wouldn't have done. Like in the song "Race You To The Top Of The Morning," Archibald sings about knowing a spell "to make the worst fiend become kind" and proceeds with one that makes the dragon go blind. (Yeah, that'll make him really kind!)

And in "Lily's Eyes", you have to wonder if "Would to God she'd stay!" is being period or just overwritten.

It's a shame that she hasn't done any more lyrics for musicals. Surely "The Red Shoes" couldn't have been that scarring an experience".

One thought that has crossed my mind doing this show, she won the Tony for her book for "Garden." But when the first national tour went out, the creative staff changed it considerably and that's the only version that is available for performance. So, she got the Tony for something that can't be performed anymore...

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 10:54am

Interesting feedback. So what are the differences in the original Broadway production and the tour changes?