A Secret You Won’t Want to Keep
Aug 19, 2017 12:03PM ● By Lamarr FowlkesAttended and reviewed by Michelle Gay
Theatre Raleigh has put forth an amazing performance once again. Their take on The Secret Garden was an elegant display of what it looks like to take a sorrowful tale and turn it into something beautiful. From the opening music, the audience is taken on journey into the life of young Mary after the deaths of her parents. Though the tale seems tragic, this portrayal paints a picture that keeps the audience enthralled in what will take place next.
The actors stepped into their roles beautifully. Their voices blended harmoniously making each melody a performance to be enjoyed. Jenny Latimer (Lily) demonstrated this with charm as her melodies interacted with the others around her. The music and lyrics moved the audience to tears. Mallory Hawks who plays Martha and Nick Petrelli who plays Dickon brought strategic moments of comedic relief that were greatly needed. Their characters brought life to somber moments. Though every actor delivered a fantastic performance, the young Skyla Woodard (Mary Lennox) stole the show with her charm and her commitment to her role.
The excellence of the actors was complimented by brilliance of the set design. The pieces moved flawlessly in and out of the scenes. There was not a transition that lagged on or seemed out of place. There was consistency with the tempo of the music and the flow of the script. The transformation of the set pieces for the final scene was breathtaking.
There was an occasional lack of synchronization between some of the dancers, but this in no way took away from the beauty of the choreography. The dancers moved around the stage with grace that was matched by the delicate details of their costumes. Though many of the actors wear the same color, the costumes were very distinct right down to their shoes. The distinctive designs guided the eyes so that the characters developed individually and collectively throughout the story. I highly recommend catching the show before it ends.
“The Secret Garden” is on stage through Sunday August 20th in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theatre at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are still available and may be acquired over the phone from the box office at (919) 832-9997 or online at https://theatreraleigh.secure.force.com/ticket. Ticket prices range from $25 to $54.