The Secret Garden

[mdlbear]

For, um, a very long time, we've had season tickets for the Lamplighters, a mostly Gilbert & Sullivan group in San Francisco. They're simply wonderful -- and they've won prizes. Today we went up to hear their production of The Secret Garden (book and lyrics by Marsha Norman, music by Lucy Simon, from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett).

It was, quite simply, one of the top two or three pieces of musical theater I have ever seen. The music, in particular, was simply magical, and the singing and acting first-rate (as usual). The composer was in the audience; I was able to thank her personally after the performance.

There will be more performances, January 31 through February 3, at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. If you love musical theater and live within 150 miles or so of the Bay Area, you will regret it if you don't go see it.

 

I was simply blown away by this show. I came close to tears at a couple of points, especially the end of the second act; those of you who know this cynical old bear know how rare that is. I think a part of it was the way it touched themes of loss and grieving that I'm all too familiar with.

Did I mention that the chorus are all ghosts?

I found myself thinking of my own ghosts, a lot.

 

[You can read The Secret Garden on Project Gutenberg.]

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[tibicina.livejournal.com]

That's one of my favorite musicals. Mmmmmm. Such gorgeous music. (If I Had a Fine White Horse...)

[debmats.livejournal.com]

Cool! I love the show and will see if I can get tickets!

[asavitzk.livejournal.com]

Is this a new production or the same script/music of the one that was on Broadway years ago?

When my theatre produced it last year I thought it was horrible though I'm 90% sure that was because of how it was directed and designed, not the script.

[mdlbear]

It's the same script/music that opened on Broadway in, IIRC, 1991. The Lamplighters came as close as they could to the original orchestration; I understand the touring version used synthesizers, which wouldn't have been anywhere near right. The sets were, from what I can tell, very different, but they worked well.

By the way, let me know if you haven't gotten your wedding invitation yet; it was mailed out last week but could have gone astray. (You can find a couple of slightly-photoshopped versions here - chaoswolf has been taking a photoshop course.)

The Ghostly Chorus

[harmonyheifer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the older we get, the closer we get to the other side and that is often a bittersweet journey, especially as we grieve for those who have passed before us. My awareness of the ghosts in my life has really been profound lately. Maybe the marriage of my daughter triggered it, I'm not really sure.

Although I adore the children and grandchildren of friends and family and love them dearly, I am starting to comprehend my 90 year old grandfather's lament that there was no one left who had known him when he was a boy. Life is short, our job is to make the most of every day. Sometimes that is a real challenge, but the alternative is to just float through life and maybe not appreciate all the good things. *virtual hug -to hold you until Baycon when I can give you a real one.*

[trektone.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review. I didn't love The Secret Garden musical (lyrics) when I heard the Broadway cast recording, though I did catch the touring company when it first came to San Francisco and enjoyed the singing a great deal and the acting was okay.

[mdlbear]

I think having the original orchestration really helped.

Re: The Ghostly Chorus

[mdlbear]

In my case I think I'm just getting old.

((hugs))