"The Secret Garden" - by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon - Theatre III (Acton, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Arden McAuliffe as "Mary" travels with Elaine Crane as "Mrs. Medlock" in a moment from the musical "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing at Theatre III of Acton, MA. through October 31, 2026. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Fidler)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“All I need is there in the garden. All I would ask is care for the child – Child of our love.”
- ("Archibald and Lily") / Marsha Norman, Lucy Simon
Theatre III of Acton
Presents the Musical
"THE SECRET GARDEN"
Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman
Music by Lucy Simon
Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Directed and Choreographed by Amanda Giglio
Music Director E. Justin Simone
Cast Includes: Arden McAuliffe, Joanna Fidler as “Mary Lennox,” Aiden O'Neal as “Lily,” Gavin Davis as “Archibald Craven,” Dan Richards as “Dr. Neville Craven,” Elaine Crane as “Mrs. Medlock/Dreamer,” Mary Couvée as “Martha,” Chris Govang as “Dickon,” Tedford Armistead as “Ben Weatherstaff,” Abbie Galvin, Reagan Miller as “Colin Craven,” Chelsea Thitsar as “Fakir,” Ramya Varanasi as “Ayah,” Emily Frey as “Rose Lennox,” Justin Schindler as “Albert Lennox,” Diana Dillon as “Mrs. Shelley/Dreamer,” Daniel Webber as “Mj. Shelley/Dreamer,” Erika Wilde as “Claire Holmes/Dreamer,” Peter Boettcher as “Mj. Holmes/Dreamer,” Melissa Penney as “Mrs. Winthrop/Dreamer,” Jess Thompson as “Alice/Dreamer,” Ben Morse as “Lt. Shaw/Dreamer,” T.J. Pullano as “Lt. Wright/Dreamer,” Nicolle Armistead as “Dreamer/Mj. Shelley Cover,” Thalia Ruark as “Dreamer.”
Additional Creative Team:
Produced by Ruth Bendig and Alison Walters-Short; Stage Managed by Emily Lambert; Assistant Stage Manager Adeline Luperchio; Cultural Consultant - Lali Haines; Lighting Design - Jeremy Behrle; Sound Design - Todd Short; Set Design - Amanda Giglio; Set Construction Lead - Chris Giglio; Set Dressing - Fran Betlyon; Props - Karen Dinehart; Costume Design - Sue Flint; Hair and Makeup Design - Karen Burum; Dialect Coach - Emily Frey.
Performances:
October 17, 2026 through October 31, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All performances held at THEATRE III, 250 Central Street, West Acton, MA. 01720
TICKETS:
For tickets or more information call THEATRE III at # 978-263-9070 or by visiting www.theatreiii.org
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Theatre III harvests a bountiful production in the musical staging of "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing in Acton, MA.
Based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the musical's script and lyrics for "THE SECRET GARDEN" are provided by Marsha Norman with music by Lucy Simon.
Utilizing every square inch of the Theatre III space, the production is adorned with faux foliage all over the proscenium which not only looks spectacular, it is cleverly designed for use in specific scenes.
The only thing impressing more than the Theatre III production values is the Theatre III cast involved as this is an exceptional production.
After a 1989 staged reading in New York, and subsequent workshopping in Virginia, "THE SECRET GARDEN" made its Broadway debut in 1991 running until 1993 and closing after an noteworthy 709 performances.
In 1991, the musical would be nominated for a whopping 13 Drama Desk Awards, winning for Outstanding Book of a Musical (Marsha Norman), Outstanding Orchestrations (William David Brohn) and Outstanding Set Design (Heidi Landesman), and won three of six nominated Tony Awards for Best Book, Best Scenic Design and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Daisy Eagan).
For decades, "SECRET GARDEN" had been staged numerous times by theatres across the country but, at least in Massachusetts theatre circles, in recent years it has not been presented nearly as often.
It is understandable given the sheer volume of technical requirements and talent required to mount a successful production.
However, it is hopeful that this inspired production by Theatre III might just inspire more groups to produce this delightful show.
The story is set in the early years of the 20th century.
Costuming for Theatre III's "THE SECRET GARDEN" is resplendent and well in keeping in with the locations and timeframe in which the story is set.
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing at Theatre III of Acton, MA. through October 31, 2026. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Fidler)
Mary Lennox (portrayed at alternating performances by Arden McAuliffe and Joanna Fidler), an English girl born and raised in the British Raj, orphaned by a cholera outbreak when she is ten years old.
At the October 18th performance, Joanna Fidler gave a praiseworthy performance in the role of feisty, occasionally obstinate young Mary.
Escorted out of India by stern housekeeper Mrs. Medlock (Elaine Crane), Mary arrives in Yorkshire, England, to live at posh manor “Misselthwaite” owned by an uncle with whom Mary has never met.
Crane does a commendable job as Medlock, considering the character is only on stage for brief moments at a time and yet, during those moments, her presence definitely is impactful.
Mary is introduced to her uncle Archibald ("Archie") Craven (Gavin Davis), a reclusive man fostering a hunched back.
Archie wants little to do with the girl as he is too busy contending with his ailing, bedridden son Colin (played at alternating performances by Abbie Galvin and Reagan Miller).
As Mary and Colin meet, there is instant chemistry, as well conveyed by the young actors.
Davis is sheer perfection in the role of Archie, who has spent years mourning the death of his wife, Lily (Aiden O'Neal), who also occasionally appears in the story as an apparition.
The management of the manor house Archie has largely left to his domineering brother, Dr. Neville Craven (Dan Richards). Richards and Davis have fine chemistry as the siblings who both mourn Lily in their own ways, as conveyed in arguably the musical’s most stirring number, “Lily’s Eyes.”
(Photo: Chris Govang as "Dicken" with Joanna Fidler as "Mary" in a moment from the musical "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing at Theatre III of Acton, MA. through October 31, 2026. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Fidler)
Cheery chambermaid Martha (Mary Couvée) encourages Mary to go outside and amuse herself, perhaps checking out the manor’s grounds.
As Mary explores the grounds and comes across a “locked” shrubbery maze (yes, I know but just go with it), she finds the majority of the area in poor shape, after years of neglect.
Mary meets Martha’s brother Dickon (Chris Govang) who, like Martha, is blessed with a relentlessly sunny disposition.
Dickon encourages Mary to tend the ground by planting seeds.
Similar to Couvée as Martha, Govang is charming as the terminally cheerful Dickon, with both Martha and Dickon having several memorable exchanges with Mary.
(Photo: Aiden ONeal as "Lily" with Reagan Miller as "Colin" in a moment from the musical "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing at Theatre III of Acton, MA. through October 31, 2026. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Fidler)
Mary also meets Ben (Tedford Armistead), the blustery but benevolent groundskeeper of Misselthwaite who serves as a bridge between the estate's past history and now.
Armistead is quite appealing as Ben and, like Crane’s character of “Mrs. Medlock,” it is a shame more could not have been done with the character as Ben only appears in a few scenes.
However, Ben, again like Medlock, is a key figure, knowing the long history of the grounds, holding the memory of Lily, and secretly still tending her rose garden out of a deep sense of loyalty long after her death.
Ben also points out a friendly robin redbreast to Mary, one that ultimately helps guide Mary to the hidden key to the door of "THE SECRET GARDEN."
There is hope that through Mary’s arrival, perhaps the garden may once more become restored to its more joyous and beautiful state, a sign that joy and beauty may also still be possible in the lives of this family.
Back inside the manor, even though Archibald shuns Mary, both share the emotion of prolonged grief – Mary for her parents and Archie for his beloved wife.
(Photo: Gavin Davis as “Archibald Craven” with Dan Richards as “Dr. Neville Craven” in a moment from the musical "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing at Theatre III of Acton, MA. through October 31, 2026. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Fidler)
Mary and Archie both hear echoing of crying voices at Misselthwaite during the song "I Heard Someone Crying."
These shared emotions are so great that “Misselthwaite” is literally haunted by the spirits of their loved ones (aka “The Dreamers”), as Archie explains to Mary in his line "They're only a ghost if someone alive is still holding onto them.”
Embracing the above theory, not only do we see Lily’s spirit, there are also the apparitions of Mary’s parents (played by Emily Frey as her mother “Rose” and Justin Schindler as her father “Albert”) and others that succumbed to the cholera in India.
Both react to the veiled crying in different ways - with Archie seeking to completely escape the manor while Mary advances ever-deeper to find its source.
This haunting theme, perfectly executed (poor choice of wording, perhaps) by the Theatre III ensemble, permeates the entire production with expert staging by director/choreographer Amanda Giglio augmenting the text by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
(Photo: Arden McAuliffe as "Mary" travels with Elaine Crane as "Mrs. Medlock" in a moment from the musical "THE SECRET GARDEN" now playing at Theatre III of Acton, MA. through October 31, 2026. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Fidler)
The score to "THE SECRET GARDEN" is gorgeous, with much of it delivered superbly by an exceptional Theatre III cast of vocalists.
While the overall blocking by Giglio is superb, occasionally the choreography tends to “overreach” as the spacing on stage does not always accommodate the sheer number of performers involved.
"THE SECRET GARDEN" continues from Theatre III in Acton, MA. until October 31st, 2026 and is a simply beautiful production that rose to the occasion.
Coming up next up for Theatre III will be "THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK" which runs from January 30th through February 7th, 2027.
For tickets or more information call Theatre III at # 978-263-9070 or by visiting www.theatreiii.org
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
In "THE SECRET GARDEN" - This enchanting classic of children's literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of "'Night Mother."
Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin.
The estate's many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the "Dreamers," spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing "THE SECRET GARDEN"'s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.
THEATRE III is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the performing arts through bringing high quality performing arts to the surrounding community; by giving meaningful opportunities for involvement in theater production to the skilled local artists and talented production staff who participate in all aspects of bringing performances to the stage; and by engaging with the surrounding community with support for other local organizations and projects.
250 Central Street
West Acton, MA. 01720
# 978-263-9070
