MMP’s “The Secret Garden” enchanting

MANCHESTER — Springtime is the perfect time of year for the Manchester Musical Players’ production of the musical “The Secret Garden,” just when the cold and seemingly dead earth jumpstarts back into life.
This delightful and fanciful show is based on the cherished Victorian children’s novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and it stays very close to the original, which is a blessing, because the story is such a fanciful one.
A young girl, Mary Lennox, (Catherine McElaney) is living in India during British rule, when her parents and just about every adult she knows dies suddenly from cholera. She is shipped back to England to live with her uncle, the widowed Archibald Craven (Michel Baron) in his gothic manor. Craven’s young son, Colin, (Aaron Bogin) is bedridden and treated as if he is going to die by the household led by the dastardly Dr. Neville Craven, Archie’s jealous younger brother, played by John-Michael Whitney.
Visions of ghosts, here called dreamers, from both Mary’s and Archie’s past are ever present and add an otherworldly quality to the production.
Leading this large cast is the feisty McElaney as Mary. Casting is everything in a show like this, and director Jane Cerosky could not have picked a better lead. Outstanding are the consistently fine English accents and dialects, which are often touch-and-go in non-professional productions, but are superior here.
McElaney’s Mary is petulant when she should be, and hits just the right note of indignation at the mistreatment she receives from Dr. Neville Craven (John-Michael Whitney) and the fine, bossy housekeeper Mrs. Medlock, played with rigid propriety by Dawne Robinson Gagnon.
From the moment she meets the spoiled young Colin Craven, both McElaney and Bogin are natural and easy, squabbling and real as kids truly behave. Even to the end when they are wrestling with the secret garden key, they stay in character.
The orchestra, expertly led by musical director Kim Aliczi, is a joy from the first note to the last. However, as sometimes is the case, they are so strong they often overpower the vocalists, who are stronger actors than singers, despite being miked.
The one exception is the Kristin Chabot-Gauld, who plays Archie’s dead wife and Mary’s Aunt Lily. Her voice is simply gorgeous, and is a pleasure to hear each time she sings.
Also riveting and charismatic is Tim Russell as Dickon. Although a bit old to play the young country lad, it’s clear why he is cast in the role. He invests every moment on stage with action, movement, and energy.
Rounding out the solid and large cast is the old gardener Ben Weatherstaff, played by the earthly Art Bradbury, and the kind and knowing chambermaid, Martha, with a spot-on Yorkshire accent, played by Marissa Giglio.
It’s an ambitious production, with many scene changes, cleverly realized with a model of the gothic manor offset stage right, with lighted rooms to indicate where the action on the stage is occurring — set design by Gregg Cerosky.
The numerous and varied period costumes designed by Lisa Ann Steier are all well constructed and beautifully detailed from the sari worn by the Indian servant Ayah played by Sarah Hayes, to the lace collar on Mary’s frocks.
The Manchester Musical Players have much to be pleased about with this winsome, enchanting production of “The Secret Garden.”

THE SECRET GARDEN

3 Stars
Theater: The Manchester Musical Players, Inc.
Location: Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester
Production: Directed by Jane Cerosky. Musical direction by Kim Aliczi. Book and lyrics by Marsha Norman. Music by Lucy Simon. Stage manager Heidi Bengraff. Produced by Marge Kelly. Set design by Gregg Cerosky. Costume design by Lisa Ann Steier. Lighting design by Vince Ponce. Props by Linda Lydon.
Running time: 2 1/2 hours, plus one 15-minute intermission
Show Times: Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. through April 18.
Tickets: $20 general admission, $17 for seniors and students. Call the box office at 860-875-1727, or visit their website at www.mmplayers.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Catherine McElaney … Mary Lennox
Kristin Chabot-Gauld … Lily
Michael Baron … Archibald Craven
John-Michael Whitney … Dr. Neville Craven
Dawne Robinson Gagnon … Mrs. Medlock
Marissa Giglio … Martha
Tim Russell … Dickon
Aaron Bogin … Colin Craven
Art Bradbury … Ben Weatherstaff
Jenna R. Levitt … Rose Lennox
Chris Rataic … Capt. Albert Lennox
Ric Plamenco … Fakir
Sarah Hayes … Ayah
Jim Metzler … Lt. Peter Wright
Michael May … Lt. Ian Shaw
Michael Metsack … Major Holmes
Marge Kelly … Claire Holmes
Lisa Garofalo … Alice
Fran Kriegenhofer … Mrs. Winthrop and the nurse
Meg Clifton … Jane the Maid