Edwardian perennial The Secret Garden flowers once again as The Tower Theatre Company sow the seeds of a new stage adaptation. This community-based ensemble nurtures a charming retelling that blooms with garlands but lacks gothic grit. Rating
Good
The Secret Garden is a deceptively dark children’s classic yet considering its author, Frances Hodges Burnett, was orphaned, uprooted to America and lost a son to tuberculosis, the tale’s bleak undertones are contextualised.
Protagonist Mary Lennox (Eloise McCreedy) is dealt a similarly dismal start to life when she loses both parents to an Indian Cholera outbreak and is shipped off to her reclusive hunchback uncle Mr Craven in the ‘sad and gloomy’ Misselthwaite Manor. As the desolate Yorkshire Moor winter springs into new life, so does Mary who blossoms from under the steel claw of governess Mrs Medlock (Emma Cornford) to find joy in bucolic friendships, eccentric relatives and an enchanting abandoned garden.
Our introduction to Mary is somewhat less enchanting as McCreedy embodies the impudence of a thoroughly spoilt child with sluggish posture and monosyllabic responses. A brimming audience of all ages is aghast at Mary’s tantrums as we side with the warm temperance of her Yorkshire lass maid Martha (Imogen Front). McCreedy ably manages her character development as she arcs from intolerable to loveable even if her first outburst is uncomfortably ear-piercing. Front’s grasp of the thick Moors accent and dialect is the most successful in her ensemble as she delivers tough love with clarity and care.
Less clear is the accent of Dickon (Pablo Tranchell), an animal whisperer who first brings Mary out of her (cockle)shell and into a love of gardening. The archaic vernacular of Dickon’s speech seems to block Tranchell from stepping into his brotherly role and he is overshadowed by the peculiar presence of Cousin Colin (Morgan Buckley).
Buckley perfectly captures the essence of the gothic invalid and commands his scenes draped over a chaise longue. His shifty expressions and legato speech patterns enrich Colin’s eccentricities making his the most effective handling of a much younger character. Our transfer of dislike from Mary to Colin soon evaporates as his softening enables the reconnection to father Archibald Craven, benevolently played by Michael Hopkins.
The titular garden falls to the beautiful interpretation of set designer Phillip Ley who adorns unfurling walls with tendrils of Ivy and Jasmine. Barks and grasses give a feeling of the great outdoors coupled with rustic robin and rabbit puppets. If anything, these puppets would benefit from featuring more as the ensemble cast chirp sweetly with their animals in tow.
Attention is also paid to how the once ruinous walled sanctuary is now flourishing as the second act gives way to scenes of burgeoning flora and fauna, much to the delight of wisecracking gardener Ben Weatherstaff (Johnathan Norris).
Further design contrast between the outdoors and in could be explored through the decaying grandeur of Misselthwaite Manor. Billowing dustsheets and stormy soundscapes could accentuate the murky atmosphere that is so at odds with the summery world outside.
Director Emily Hassan unearths a bright and breezy interpretation alive (or rather wick) with moorland magic. The Secret Garden’s broad age appeal is testament to its longevity and with upcoming relaxed performances, it is ideal for families of all natures.
Written by Frances Hodges Burnett
Adapted by Elizabeth by Newman
Directed by Emily Hassan
Set Design by Phillip Ley
Lighting Design by Stephen Ley
Sound Design by Kseniia Vengsar
Costume Design by Christine Bowmaker and Kate Els
Produced by The Tower Theatre Company
The Secret Garden plays at Tower Theatre until Saturday 1 November.
