King's Head Theatre, London
***
An orphaned little girl moved from India to England; a
man so damaged with grief he can't bear to stay within his own home and care
for his son and niece; a garden once forgotten, left to die, brought to life
again. The Secret Garden in Concert
tells the tale of Mary Lennox, who is to live with her uncle after the tragic
loss of her parents. The back of an Islington pub is perhaps the last place
you'd expect to find such a tale, but whilst the space is not entirely
transformed into a flourishing garden, the fake flowers, hanging ivy and fairy
lights speak of a kind of kitsch innocence that often seems to have been lost.
They tell a story of childhood, loss, and the rekindling of hope.
Mary Lennox, played by Ana Martin, is wonderfully
obnoxious and endearing. Her temperament plays off perfectly against Alexander
Evan's exquisite portrayal of Archibald Craven, whose pain at the loss of his
wife is almost palpable. As Yorkshire born and bred brother and sister Martha
and Dickon, Rachel McCormick and Jordan Lee Davies are both energetic bursts of
zeal, delivering strong vocal performances. Davies in particular oozes so much
charm and charisma that the audience, like Mary, cannot help but be drawn to
him. Freddie Davies, who starred in the original RSC production of The Secret Garden, reprises his role of
Ben Weatherstaff the gardener, a wise, no-nonsense man who is also warm, funny
and unapologetically blunt. Zac Donovan gives an excellent performance as
bratty, reclusive Colin, striking the balance between a childlike temperament
and maturity beyond his years.
The cast using the space behind the audience, as well
as the three entrance doors for their exits, the piece gains an almost
dreamlike quality that works very well, especially since so much of the story
is told in flashbacks, memories, and fantasies. It is a charming production
that whisks you away as soon as the band begins to play and the actors take to
the stage - perhaps not to a Yorkshire moor or to a secret garden, but to your
childhood. To a place where, as in a child's eye, magic and mystery can be
found in everything. Director Matthew Gould has created a tender, bewitching
piece powerful enough to reach out and touch you.
This production runs on Sundays and Mondays until
17th March 2013.
For
more information: https://kingsheadtheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873487713/events
@KingsHeadThtr
1 comment:
Why is this only a three star? What was wrong with it that isn't detailed here?
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