The Secret Garden

We always venture off to see the Christmas production at The Stables in Wavendon (a great venue for those who haven't every been check out its website and see who is  coming in the next few months, they have such an eclectic mix - fingers crossed we'll be off to see Midge Ure later in the year).  This year it was The Secret Garden an adaption by Proteus Theatre Co of the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  The Christmas plays at The Stables are always so innovative, usually a small cast who use music and puppets so creatively that you don't even notice there may be only 4 or 5 in the group.

The production was good with really creative use being made of a very simple set and costume adjustments rather than changes.  All the acting was very competently carried out and you believed the story which was very faithful to the book.  I particularly like the use of shadow drawing to tell Mary Lennox's back story and how she became an orphan in India.  Of course the story was condensed and I really hope it inspired some to go away and read the book in full as it's such a wonderful story.

I loved the accents too, lots of broad Yorkshire (!!) and loads of references and descriptions of the Moors so it was all good there, Jamie saw the production twice coming earlier in the run with school, so keeping him engaged for two shows gives an indication of the quality.

A very enjoyable afternoon.

Ciao

Sue