Review: Sweet and Sad SECRET GARDEN Graces Lyric Music Theater's Stage

Portland's Lyric Music Theater has mounted a sweetly sad production of the Marsha Norman-Lucy Simon musical version of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, The Secret Garden, that is sure to touch the hearts of young and old alike. Directed by Joshua Chard, the production showcases the versatility of the company and offers a gentle lyrical contrast to previous endeavors such as Sweeney Todd and The Addams Family.

Chard effectively divides the stage into three planes which not only serve the different locales, but allow for the fantasy-reality interplay of the show. He elects a stylized movement with helpful choreography by Jamie Lupien Swenson to block the Dreamers' chorus, who drift in and out of the action adding a melancholy and ethereal touch. The entire staging has a dream-like quality, restrained and elusive, which suits the theme. If there is a tiny quibble, it is the unevenness of the accents among the actors, some suggesting British speech or the Yorkshire dialect and others not at all.

Steven Lupien's lavish set captures the gothic gloom of the Craven mansion as well as the brooding garden which then comes to life in the last act. Nancy Lupien's costumes effectively create the early 20th century milieu with an especially lovely dress for the departed Lucy. Bruce Gray's lighting design is atmospheric and often eerie, using the upstage skrim to aid the memory transitions. Musical Director Bob Gauthier leads the six musicians in playing the difficult and haunting score with particular beauty, and he elicits excellent vocal performances from both soloists and the exceptionally well-modulated chorus, especially in the numerous concerted numbers.

The role of Mary Lennox is shared during the run, and at the performance reviewed, young Annika Schmitt played the lonely, intuitive orphan with a blend of waif-like sensitivity and feisty individuality. Her clear pure soprano conveyed the character's innocence and held its own admirably among the other soloists. Isaac Dinnerstein matched her stage presence and brought to the invalid Colin Craven a sympathetic vulnerability later transformed to joy.

For the Craven brothers, Lyric cast two of its best singing-actors, Zack Handlen as the morose hunchback widower Archibald and Schuyler White as his officious and controlling brother Dr. Neville. Handlen possesses a voice of extraordinary power and range which he uses with great expressivity, always finding that extra dimension of drama and emotion in the music. He plumbed the pathos in this deformed loner whose one love had been lost too soon, and it was touching to witness the transformation of his grief in the final scene. Similarly, White proves a cunning foil, harboring his secret love for his brother's deceased wife and his quiet jealousy at not being the master of Misselthwaite Manor. He, too, sings with a fine tenor in both his solos and in the commanding duet with Archibald "Lily's Eyes." Lily, herself, is sung exquisitely by Rachel Henry who makes an altogether lovely spirit.

The remainder of the cast gives strong support with colorful performances from Kyle Aarons as Dickon and Whitney Smith as Martha. Bethany Perkins and Jonathan Libby as Mary's deceased parents have some tender vocal-dramatic moments; Barbara Laveault is the appropriately solemn housekeeper Mrs. Medlock; Rachel Scala demonstrates a fine dark voice and haunting presence as Mary's Ayah; Angela Libby and Steve Lupien turn in incisive cameos as the acerbic headmistress (and Alice) and the old gardener. The remainder of the Dreamers' ensemble - Dan Koloski, Bruce Lancaster, Mandela Gardner, Kaitlin McGinley - round out the cast with musicality and flair.

Lyric Music Theater has presented an exceptionally varied season with the satiric Spamalot yet to come. It is a tribute to their programming and company resources that they are able and willing to explore such a breadth of the musical theatre repertoire.

Photos Courtesy Lyric Music Theater, Brandon Pullen , photographer

THE SECRET GARDEN runs from March 11-26, 2016 at Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer St., South Portland, ME 207-799-1421 www.lyricmusictheater.org

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