re: THE SECRET GARDEN - RSC or Broadway version

[AvenueQ_81]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 3:07am

Hi!

We're interested in THE SECRET GARDEN as our big production next year.

I've had the OBC and the Samuel French version of the musical (from the National Tour...)

I've been reading online that the Royal Shakespeare Company production was a revised version of the musical.

Is there a way to get that version? When you ask for the performace rights, which version is avaliable?

I need some help here! Thks very much!!!

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 8:16am

I'm not sure that huge revisions made for the RSC production are available for groups to do - you could try e-mailing the rights holders of the Broadway release to see if they licence any other version, or the RSC itself in case they know who would handle it. Not sure you'll get any joy though...
Updated On: 12/5/06 at 08:16 AM

[D2]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 8:30am

Having seen both productions, I would advise using the original version. The RSC production was most definitely NOT an improvement - it was a dark, confusing attempt to fix something that did not need any fixing to begin with.

[Bill63]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 12:13pm

I also liked the Broadway Production better after seeing both productions. I saw the RSC production in its out of town try out in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Broadway Production seven times. One reason I did not like the RSC version is that they cut two of my favorite songs "The House upon the Hill" and "Quartet." The major change I noticed was that the supporting roles on Broadway were the ghost of Mary's past where in the RSC production they played several roles including the manor staff.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 1:03pm

This summer I was in a production of SECRET GARDEN, I played Major Holmes, we used the Samuel French version and it worked out very well. As someone pointed out: "The major change I noticed was that the supporting roles on Broadway were the ghost of Mary's past where in the RSC production they played several roles including the manor staff." We had an actual ensemble of dreamers, but the supporting roles like Major Holmes, Clarie, Alice, etc were mostly named and major supporting characters in our production. I throughly enjoyed being in it and can't wait to hear about this production. Hope all goes well.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 1:07pm

I'm pretty sure the version used for the RSC is not available for licensing. The Broadway version was definitely superior in every way: as others have pointed out - the cuts made for the UK were not good.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 1:13pm

"the cuts made for the UK were not good"

Didnt they cut all the ghosts completely?

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 1:30pm

Yep - the only ghosts were the cholera victims at the beginning and the mother and father.

Usually I have an open mind on these kind of alterations (I believe that either the composer or lyricist was present and it's always intersting to see how the authors reshape their own work), but this really didn't work. It was just a little too twee (dancing gardeners etc) for most people's tastes...