The Secret Garden Amazes from FoxHound Stage
Last weekend's performances of The Secret Garden were moving and beautiful. The cast and crew of more than 30 students and faculty worked tirelessly for months under Fine Arts Department Chair and Director Karin Thorndike preparing to bring this classic tale to the FoxHound stage. The talent of our girls and the dedication to their craft brought down the packed auditorium, moving many to wipe a tear from their eye or hum a refrain from one of the emotional numbers.
Senior Hannah All played Mary Lennox, a young girl whose world changes dramatically when her parents, Rose and Albert Lennox (Stephanie Zhang '15 and Elle Lassiter '17) are lost to cholera. Whisked away from her home in India to a distant uncle, Archibald Craven played by physics teacher Matt Mohler, Mary tries to find her bearings in the dark, cold Misselthwaite Manor, ultimately finding salvation for herself and its residents in the gardens outside.
Misselthwaite Manor hosts a number of characters, from the stern Mrs. Medlock (Lilly '15) to the unscrupulous Dr. Neville Craven (English Department Chair Alex Northrup). Mary is befriended by Martha (Erica '15) and her brother, Dickon (Meredith '15), who encourage her to explore the gardens. Except, of course, the one garden that is locked up.
The spirits of her parents followed Mary from India, and join a haunting collection of other spirits in the house that include Mary's aunt, Lily Craven (Molly '15), the late wife of Archibald. Lily had loved to garden and when she passed away, Archibald had locked up her garden to preserve her memory -- and keep himself from pain.
When a storm shakes the manor and causes servants and residents to seek shelter, Mary stumbles upon her cousin, Colin Craven (played by Patia '16), the sickly son of Archibald Craven. While their friendship is turbulant to start, Mary convinces Colin to join her outside in the hope that fresh air will improve his condition. As their bond grows, Colin gains strength and support from Mary, Martha, Dickon, and even the ornery gardener, Ben (Ja Yoon '15), but forces them to keep it a secret from his father.
The story is one of loss and love, and the healing power of friendship. Each character was played flawlessly, with actors challenging themselves with unfamiliar accents and demeanors. The musical numbers were tremendous, showcasing the vocal talents of Hannah '15, Molly '15, Meredith '15, Erica '15, and Patia '16, as well as Mr. Mohler and Mr. Northrup.
Hats off to this extremely talented cast and crew that cultivated a beautiful production in the midst of a busy spring!
Back
The spirits of her parents followed Mary from India, and join a haunting collection of other spirits in the house that include Mary's aunt, Lily Craven (Molly '15), the late wife of Archibald. Lily had loved to garden and when she passed away, Archibald had locked up her garden to preserve her memory -- and keep himself from pain.
When a storm shakes the manor and causes servants and residents to seek shelter, Mary stumbles upon her cousin, Colin Craven (played by Patia '16), the sickly son of Archibald Craven. While their friendship is turbulant to start, Mary convinces Colin to join her outside in the hope that fresh air will improve his condition. As their bond grows, Colin gains strength and support from Mary, Martha, Dickon, and even the ornery gardener, Ben (Ja Yoon '15), but forces them to keep it a secret from his father.
The story is one of loss and love, and the healing power of friendship. Each character was played flawlessly, with actors challenging themselves with unfamiliar accents and demeanors. The musical numbers were tremendous, showcasing the vocal talents of Hannah '15, Molly '15, Meredith '15, Erica '15, and Patia '16, as well as Mr. Mohler and Mr. Northrup.
Hats off to this extremely talented cast and crew that cultivated a beautiful production in the midst of a busy spring!
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The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden follows the story of Mary Lennox, played by senior Hannah. -
The Secret Garden
Mary's parents, played by Stephanie '15 and Elle '17, are taken by cholera early on. -
The Secret Garden
Lieutenant Wright (Julia '16) and Major Grandgeorge (Kat '16) escort the orphaned Mary to meet Mrs. Medlock, an associate of Mary's distant uncle, Archibald Craven, who will be in charge of her care. -
The Secret Garden
Mrs. Medlock (Lilly '15) is stern and not the friend Mary is looking for at this lonely time. . . -
The Secret Garden
. . .and when she arrives at Misselthwaite Manor, Mary does not find much solace from her uncle Archibald, played by Matt Mohler, either. Archibald still mourns deeply the loss of his wife, Lily. -
The Secret Garden
Mary is befriended by Martha (Erica '15) a servant who encourages her to get outside and explore the gardens -- all but the one that is locked. -
The Secret Garden
Outside in the gardens, Mary meets the gardener, Ben (Ja Yoon '15). . . -
The Secret Garden
. . .and Martha's brother, Dickon (Meredith '15). -
The Secret Garden
She begins to feel like herself, like the girl she means to be! -
The Secret Garden
One evening, a terrible storm shakes the house and causes the servants to scurry. . . -
The Secret Garden
. . .and in the confusion, Mary finds herself in a previously undiscovered room where her cousin Colin (Patia '16) is bedridden. -
The Secret Garden
Upon discovering Mary in Colin's room, Dr. Neville Craven, Archibald's brother, sedates the boy and asserts that he is too frail for friendships and play. -
The Secret Garden
After such a traumatic event, Mary hides in her sorrow -- but the spirit of Lily (Molly '15), Archibald's late wife and Colin's mother, comforts her and shows her the key to her secret garden. -
The Secret Garden
Dickon helps Mary revive the garden and shows her that there is life in things that appear lost. -
The Secret Garden
With Mary and Lily's encouragement, Colin agrees to go outside into the garden. -
The Secret Garden
The fresh air strengthens Colin's body and spirits, and all are overjoyed at his improvement! -
The Secret Garden
Dr. Craven, however, decides that Mary must leave Misselthwaite and brings in Mrs. Winthrop, a representative of a school far away, to take Mary away. -
The Secret Garden
After successfully bypassing the situation with Mrs. Winthrop and Dr. Craven, Mary writes a letter to her uncle, Archibald, who has left the manor to escape the haunting memory of Lily. -
The Secret Garden
Lily's spirit, however, finds Archibald and he is moved to return to the manor. -
The Secret Garden
Upon his return, he discovers that Lily's secret garden has been unlocked, and his son, Colin, is walking! -
The Secret Garden
In the end, Archibald recognizes how important Mary and Colin are to him, and that Lily is always there to look over them all. -
The Secret Garden
Hats off to the cast and crew for an amazing show!
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