Theatre Review: 'The Secret Garden' in Concert - King's Head Theatre, Islington ✭✭✭✭
'The Secret Garden' in Concert
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| Photo by Claire Bilyard |
King’s Head Theatre
Review by Sebastian Petit
Monday 11th February 2013: What an absolutely gorgeous score
this is! I am at a loss to understand why this work hasn’t entered the standard
repertoire of frequently revived musicals. The only possible reasons I can
conceive are the complexity of the score and the size of the cast. The staging
demands of the opening sequence are formidable comprising a single span of
nearly 15 minutes unbroken music covering the discovery of Mary Lennox as the
sole survivor of a cholera outbreak in India, Mary’s journey to England and
arrival in Yorkshire and Misselthwaite, the introduction of Archibald Craven
and finally Mary’s wandering round the house at night and becoming acutely
aware of the sad ghosts that haunt the house and its occupants. However Aria
Entertainment and Knockhardy Productions eminently sensible and economically
staged production let us concentrate on the many beauties of the musical. Inevitably
the tiny King’s Head stage cannot give us the multi layered feel that separates
the interlocking scenes of past and present. Those who did not know the score
might have occasionally confused as to who is who but otherwise the staging
hits all the right spots and was often deeply moving. Maybe we can hope this will lead to a fully staged revival
in the near future?
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| Photo by Claire Bilyard |
The two major productions
(Broadway and RSC) had superb casts including stars such as Mandy Patinkin, Philip
Quast, Robert Westenburg, & Linzi Hately but most of the cast at the King’s
Head had little to fear from comparison. Alexander Evans is less sable
voiced than either Patinkin or Quast but he brings a beautiful and, when
required, a powerful tenor to the role of Archibald Craven. His voice blended
beautifully with Zoë Curlett’s lovely Lily who was a potent presence throughout
the show even when not singing. Curlett was less happy in the lowest reaches of
the roles which required a few uncomfortable gear changes but she was
resplendent in the higher lines where most of the role sits. Another highlight
for Evans was the wonderful duet “Lily’s eyes” with his conflicted brother,
Neville. That role was played with nice line in suppressed frustration by
Martin Dickinson. A particularly telling moment was his horrified realisation
that he might actually be deliberately keeping his nephew sick.
The other vital component of the
cast is the servants who are the first to befriend Mary. Dickon was well played
by Jordan Lee Davies though I would have liked him to play up the wild boy /
earth spirit aspects of the role. Rachel McCormick’s feisty Martha was happier
in the cheery “If I had a fine white horse” than the very awkwardly written
“Hold on” where she could have made more of the big climax. A bonus casting was
Freddie Davies repeating his cantankerous, outspoken Head Gardener Ben
Weatherstaff from the RSC production.
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| Photo by Claire Bilyard |
I have left till last the role of
Mary Lennox with good reason. This is a monstrously demanding role especially
for a child actress – Mary is onstage for ninety percent of the evening. It is
a role which could well be unbearable if played with stage school mannerisms
and tricks. It requires unaffected acting from a performer who is unafraid to appear
unpleasant and unattractive at the beginning of the story and only gradually
blossom into the “lovely child” of the finale. Ana Martin is thirteen but looks
younger onstage but she is already a phenomenally accomplished performer.
Blessed with an excellent singing voice (happily unencumbered by any
inappropriate modern vocal overlay) and exemplary diction she really embodies
Mary. None of the performers, even the children, are mic'd yet she holds her
own against the strong voices of the rest of the cast. A really treasurable
performance.
The four piece band under David
Keefe played the cleverly rescored orchestration with brio and sensitivity and
there were very few moments when one missed the massive, lush original band
sound.
Only one real complaint: This may
be a company show in the best sense but the main principals (especially Evans
and Martin) deserve solo bows. But that minor grip aside all praise is due to
everyone involved. Let us hope a fully staged revival will follow: This
wonderful musical deserves to be seen far more widely.
4 stars ✭✭✭✭
LISTINGS INFO
The King’s Head Theatre,
115 Upper Street Islington,
The King’s Head Theatre,
115 Upper Street Islington,
Greater London N1 1QN
Evening Show - 11th,17th,18th,24th,25th February & 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th March : 7:15pm
Matinee Show - 17th March : 3:00pm
Evening Show - 11th,17th,18th,24th,25th February & 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th March : 7:15pm
Matinee Show - 17th March : 3:00pm
Press Night - 11th February : 7:15pm
Ticket Price - £10 (preview) / £10 - £25 (all other shows)
Box Office - 0207 478 0160
Ticket Price - £10 (preview) / £10 - £25 (all other shows)
Box Office - 0207 478 0160
Website - http://www.kingsheadtheatre.com
