Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Want to know a secret?

St. Thomas Playhouse to present ‘The Secret Garden’ at nexStage


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

From left, Mary Lennox Daisy played by Tara Burchmore, Colin Craven Daisy played by Travis Flynt, Lord Craven played by John Mauldin, Lily played by Alyssa Hershey, and Mary Lennox Violet played by Lucy Brannon, share in the delights of “The Secret Garden.” Photo by Heather Black

When author Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote the classic story "The Secret Garden," little did she know that it would impress generation after generation of children and adults. The book has been made into several films, multiple theater productions and a musical. St. Thomas Playhouse will present its own version of the musical adaptation of Burnett's masterpiece Wednesday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 4, at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum.

"The Secret Garden" will start off in Bombay, India, where young Mary Lennox has recently lost her parents due to cholera. She is sent to England to live with her brooding uncle, Lord Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor. Since Lord Craven is rarely home, Mary is watched over by Mrs. Medlock, a strict housekeeper.

Mary soon discovers that Misselthwaite Manor is full of secrets and sets out to solve them. She befriends Lord Craven's crippled son as well as Dickon, the younger brother of a staff maid.

After years of being needlessly bedridden, Lord Craven's son together with the other two children restore a neglected garden on the grounds of the estate and in the process set the stage for a touching reaffirmation of love and life.

The play is full of familiar names and faces including adult players Scott Creighton, Andrew Alburger, John Mauldin, Cherie Kessler, Sara Gorby and Alyssa Hershey. The lead role of Mary is double cast and played by Lucy Brannon and Tara Burchmore. The 60-plus cast also includes Tess Burchmore, Lexi Black, Arielle Rawlings, Chloe Chrysikopoulos and Abby Chase. Janis Walton directs the show and Dick Brown is music director.

"It's a good way for me to meet more people in the community," said Sun Valley Resort's entertainment director, John Mauldin, who plays Lord Craven. "I rarely get to see what else is going on and this is fun. It is energizing to be involved with kids and to sing."

"I have never been a soloist in any show," said Alyssa Hershey, The Community School's K-8th-grade music teacher who plays Lily, Lord Craven's late wife who returns as a ghost. "I am involved in so many productions in other capacities, it's good for the kids to see me in this role. It gives them another way to bond with me."

St. Thomas Playhouse Interim Director Heather Black is also in the show, and said the playhouse wants to go back to performing fall shows. That was ambitious for the playhouse because there was only a six-week lead time.

"Part of the set will be the lighting that was created for the show," Black said. "It should be interesting because the garden will grow through the course of the show."

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com

Playbill

What: St. Thomas Playhouse presents "The Secret Garden."

Where: nexStage Theatre, Ketchum.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m. Gala Reception and 7 p.m. show, Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2:30 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, 2:30 p.m.

Cost: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m. Gala Reception and 7 p.m. show, $50. Show only $20 adults and $10 children. All other shows $20 adults and $10 children.




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