By Aspen Lang
Photo Courtesy of Aspen Lang
The curtains open to Lily singing out in a clear silky honeycombed voice. Very exciting and warming. Harmonies ringing in sync and ribbons flying gracefully through the air as the dancers take to stage. The opening scene is full of high emotion and distress as Mary Lennox’s life is forever changed, her home wrecked from cholera.
She begins her new life with her hunchback uncle, Mr Craven, and her maid who she soon befriends. The discovery of the garden puts a light in her eye as Mary learns to have confidence and love for herself. Mr Craven has dreams of his late wife’s spirit, Lily.
Mary, a bored and stubborn child, wanders the forbidden halls to find the crying she hears at night, and soon finds a boy in a cornered room. Colin Craven, a sickly boy who happens to be her cousin. He has been alone all these years trying to heal from his illness. One family, broken from the death of a young woman. Lily, a wife, a mother, a friend.
Mary and her new found family and friends are able to heal each other as they grow closer over time. Opening the door to the garden and letting the past rush in. Not to cry in sorrow, but to rejoice in the growth and for what they have. The people they have become. Finding healthy earth to plant their seeds and watching them sprout with love and care. The orchestra pit did well at bringing the emotion to stage. Helping the audience to feel deeply along with the actors and what they were trying to convey. Each scene a . The people sitting on the edge of their seats with baited breath and amazement, followed by applause. It ends with flowers everywhere, smiles all around and joy ringing out in their voices as Colin is no longer ill and able to walk. Mary and her uncle have found happiness in the present and no longer look to the past in longing. What they need most is right in front of them. Each other.