What Are Your Thoughts on The Secret Garden?

#1

What Are Your Thoughts on The Secret Garden?

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:13am

So I'm currently in rehearsals for a production of The Secret Garden, and am curious what others thoughts on this show are, if you think it is time to see it revived, if it needs to be revised before being brought back, whatever.

I find the score to be absolutely beautiful and am surprised that I rarely read about it being done regionally etc. Is it because you have to rely on children actors so heavily, or perhaps that it is simply a large show to produce and that is a challenge for companies/producers?

Cheers,

C.

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www.christopherviolett.com

Updated On: 6/21/10 at 11:13 AM

#2

What Are Your Thoughts on The Secret Garden?

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:18am

I have never seen the show, so I can't really say much. I have, however, listened to the cast album many times, and believe it is one of the best cast albums I have ever heard. There is so much packed onto one disc, it doesn't even need a synopsis in the liner notes. It successfully does what I believe a cast album should do: tell the story of the show through sound.

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-- SDG

#3

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:19am

I enjoyed the show when it was on Broadway, except for the fact that the secret garden was a bit of a letdown. I don't think it was as beautiful as it could have been.

I do think that not many do it because it relies heavily on having a strong child lead who has to be able to handle some type of British accent.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#4

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:20am

a Lincoln Center-Bart Sher production would be phenominal! Only if they had the perfect cast. I don't think it needs changes, just use the original orchestrations and do it with a large orchestra.

#5

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:26am

I remember finding it rather maudlin, somewhat dull, humorless, and occasionally pretty. But more recent rotten adaptations of public-domain treacly Brit Lit (Jane Eyre, etc.) make it seem like high art.

#6

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:33am

I've seen a handful of regional/college productions. The Dreamers/Ghosts have to be used very carefully as their role can easily be confused. The best of the productions that I saw used them much more sparingly than the others, using them more often as offstage singers.

Did anyone see the London production with the heavily revised script? Any thoughts on that production?

#7

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:34am

Marsha Norman's book is a bit overstuffed with ideas, but it's a great show nonetheless. The set of the original production was absolutely beautiful and I still think the score is one of the best of the 90's.

Why hasn't Lucy Simon come back to Broadway?

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#8

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:43am

The score is beautiful. I always found the show to be a tad on the slow side though.

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....but the world goes 'round

#9

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:43am

I love this show.
I think its a great piece. would love to see it revived.
I've seen it done a bunch locally, some to wonderful results, others not so wonderful.

#10

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:44am

I've never seen it, but I have seen the Tony performance many times online. And I just want to say that I keep getting overwhelmed with emotion every time they sing Wick. I don't know why but I find it beautiful. I'm close to deciding that I want to buy the cast recording. I would love to see a revival, even if I know little of the music.

#11

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:44am

Btw, there is another version that features Barbara Cook and it is also a delightful score.

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....but the world goes 'round

#12

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:47am

They did a great job with the OCR. Do get it.

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"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#13

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:47am

Borstal, I was just thinking that the other day! (And oddly, I had a dream involving a Carly Simon vinyl last night...long story.)

I loved the show. The score is so beautiful and haunting...and the original cast was a wonder.

(I love threads like these...they make me revisit the disc right after posting!)

#14

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:53am

I saw the national tour of Secret Garden and thought it was gorgeous. I'd love to see this back on Broadway. The original staging was dark, but very inventive and effective.

I know Lucy Simon composed Zhivago for La Jolla, but I believe the reviews were rather tepid. Would love to see her return to Broadway with some new material.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

Updated On: 6/21/10 at 11:53 AM

#15

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:56am

It's funny because I had only really listened to "How Could I Ever Know," "Hold On" and "Lily's Eyes" before starting rehearsals, I hadn't listened to "Wick" even once before singing it with the two girls who will be playing Mary. Who would you like to see play some of the roles if there were a revival?

I know she may be a little old for the role now, but I think Kelli O'Hara would be a lovely Lily; she'd sing it beautifully, no doubt about it. And I love the idea of Bart Sher doing it for Lincoln Center...it would be stunning to watch, that's for sure!

Cheers,

C.

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www.christopherviolett.com

#16

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:56am

"Why hasn't Lucy Simon come back to Broadway?"

Broadway doesn't go for outsiders. Unless your name is Sondheim Herman Hammerstein Lerner-Lowe, we don't need your music stinking up our theaters.

The Cody-Fosters

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#17

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 11:59am

Did anyone see the London production with the heavily revised script? Any thoughts on that production?

Yes, I saw it. It was back in 2001 and it was an RSC production.

I absolutely loved it. Lovely scenic design and such a beautiful score. I shed a bucket of tears during How Could I Ever Know. Overall, it is still one of the best casts I've ever seen for a musical: Philip Quast, Linzi Hateley, Peter Polycarpou,... Bliss.

I am not very familiar with the other productions so can't really comment regarding the revised script. Thought it was perfectly fine for this production.

#18

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 12:03pm

I saw a community theatre production about 10 years ago that was incredible (this from a company that's usually hit-or-miss). I love the score, the story is nicely streamlined and the added love triangle works.

What's hard is this show at first glance appeals to kids, but might move too slowly for them -- and then the adults think it's a kids show, so they won't go.

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"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#19

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 12:18pm

"I remember finding it rather maudlin, somewhat dull, humorless, and occasionally pretty. But more recent rotten adaptations of public-domain treacly Brit Lit (Jane Eyre, etc.) make it seem like high art."

We love you too, newintown.

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Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#20

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 12:20pm

I did The Secret Garden 4 years ago and it was an incredible experience. We had incredibly small audiences at first but word got out about it and we ended up being sold out for the last few performances. It's a touching story and the music is gorgeous. It was an honor to be in it.

As for a revival? Laura Benanti as Lily. Please? Pretty please??

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"I'm a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls!"-Funny Girl

#21

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 12:21pm

I absolutely adore this show!!! Beautiful score! Beautiful book! It's so underrated in my book!

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Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#22

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 12:48pm

I think there are plenty of young actors that are more than capable to perform in a Broadway musical. I recently sent my son to camp called A CLASS ACT NY and he absolutely loved it. At the end of the camp all the kids performed and let me tell you... I was blown away!

~Rebecca

AClassActNY.comhttp://AClassActNY.com">AClassActNY.com

A Class Act NY

#23

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 12:57pm

The Secret Garden cast recording is what got me interested in musical theatre (at age . I listened to it constantly then and can pretty much recite the show word-for-word to this day. The score is definitely one of the most gorgeous ones I've ever heard, and if there were a revival, I don't even want to think about how many times I'd be there.

Also, I'm surprised to see people saying it's not done much regionally, because I saw four different community theatre productions of it within five years in my hometown. It's great for high schools too, because some high schoolers might look young enough to play Mary and Colin (or they can cast from middle/elementary schools) and the ensemble can pretty much be as large as necessary.

#24

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 1:03pm

This show has always been one of my favorites. The score is simply gorgeous and I would kill for a revival. I could see Lincoln Center doing it.

#25

Thoughts on The Secret Garden

Posted: 6/21/10 at 1:22pm

Glorious score - should have won the Tony. Did Cy Coleman really need two in a row, after his deserved win for City of Angels?

The show needs about ten minutes of cuts - tighten the dialogue, maybe get rid of some of the chorus oohing and ahhing. Yes, it's a big, spooky house - we get it!