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A magical and thought-provoking adaptation for all generationsSummary
Rating
Unmissable!
An evening at Regents Park Open Air Theatre can either be a great success or a great disaster, depending on what the weather has instore for us. When the sun shines the theatre itself becomes its own golden garden, the perfect setting for this heartwarming and thoughtful retelling of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden.
Originally a children’s book published under the same name in 1911, there are themes and some commentaries that could seem outdated, or even offensive, to audiences in 2024. The book follows young Mary Lennox who grows up in India, but after being orphaned following an outbreak of Cholera, is sent to Yorkshire, England to live under the care of her estranged uncle.
This adaption by Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard handles the themes of colonialism with grace and care, making a small change that the two mothers of the play are Indian, both married to English Officers, allowing for Mary Lennox to be of mixed heritage, a theme that is then build beautifully into both Leslie Travers’ set design and Khadija Raza’s costumes.
It is rare to see a production where all elements fit together as one, complimenting and never overpowering, but this production is certainly one of them. Raza’s visually stunning costumes are set against Travers’ set, giving hints to the vast Misslethwaite Manor, with small holes all over filed with candles, traditional Indian jewellery and Ivory Elephants surround the front of the stage, and traditional Indian paper garlands being pulled from soil to represent the flowers growing, it is a true depiction of both cultures becoming one. With warm rich colours allowing us to feel the warmth of India, to the harsh wet Yorkshire weather, lighting designer Jai Morjaria has worked with the natural light, as the night sky slowly darkens perfectly.
Audience imagination is key to this production, inviting us to think, sparking the childhood imagination and belief in us, that the young children of the book rely upon. The casting is perfect, one of the best examples of an ensemble I have seen on stage for many years. Whilst not playing their named roles, each actor leads us through the story, each taking turns to be our narrators, our guides. Puppetry also plays a key role; a crow transforming out of a black shawl, a fox from a golden jumper, all woven perfectly in this magical imaginative play.
With birds flying overhead, the green bushes creating the surrounding wings, this is one production that seems truly at home at Regents Park, and is a production Robinson & Howard should be proud of. The Secret Garden captures the audiences hearts, plays a truthful homage to the original story, but with care and understanding of a twenty first century audience.
Based on the book by: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Adapted by: Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard
Set design by: Leslie Travers
Costumes designed by: Khadija Raza
Lighting design by: Jai Morjaria
The Secret Garden plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 20 July. Further information and tickets available here.
