King's Head Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 11th February 2013
"When Mary Lennox is orphaned, she must return from India to live with her distant uncle in Yorkshire. With a blossoming friendship with local boy Dickon, Mary begins to take an interest in the mysterious house she now lives and is entranced by the garden... but can she unlock the secrets that are held within?"
The Secret Garden is a magical, enchanting show with the most stunning score. This concert production of the show is very special and appeals to all ages, something which very few shows manage to achieve.
The cast of eighteen are very strong. I have seen many productions at the King's Head Theatre and usually love the unique, personal experience which the theatre provides. However, for the first time I felt this production suffered and would work better in a slightly larger theatre. I absolutely loved it when the cast performed together while scattered around the stage and aisle as voices were coming from all around and it felt truly magical. But during many scenes and songs I felt the small stage restricted the actors and at some moments the cast seemed squashed - it did not feel right.
Ana Martin was utterly breathtaking as Mary Lennox. The 13 year old actress meant every single word she said and sung effortlessly. Ana performed as if she had been doing it for years and is clearly headed for big things.
The rest of the cast were incredible, making it impossible to pick out stand out performances. The beauty of The Secret Garden is that it gives the majority of the cast their time to shine. However, I felt a few scenes were over acted and became slightly patronising which took away from the sincerity of the piece. Despite this, the story is very touching and leaves you feeling inspired. I noticed a few people wiping tears from their eyes.
I would urge you go go and see this enchanting show. While I do not think The Secret Garden works at the King's Head, the cast are magnificent and the show has wide appeal. There are moments of hilarity and sadness but ultimately you will be left feeling uplifted and inspired.
The Secret Garden runs at the King's Head Theatre on Sundays and Mondays until 17th March 2013. Please visit www.kingsheadtheatre.org for more information and to book tickets.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
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