The Secret Garden

Over the last few years Bankstown has featured in the national news for all the wrong reasons. It is therefore pleasing to report that good things do happen at Bankstown, and have been for many years.

I refer to the offerings of Bankstown Theatre Company, which has been functioning  under several names for about 80 years. The current offering is the Lucy Simon/ Marsha Norman musical piece The Secret Garden, a rarely performed work in the community theatre repertoire.

When asked to review the production I agreed with some trepidation, as BTC is where I first trod the boards many years ago, so I know many of the shakers and movers who run the group, and a number of the performers. One is my next door neighbor. What if I didn’t like the production, what could I say?

Fortunately this was not an issue. I liked the show. A lot.

First some words about the production team, all of whom have worked in the professional theatre arena at one stage or another.

Director Diane Wilson is joined by Musical Director Greg Crease and Choreographer Edward Rooke. Gone is a large orchestra, replaced by a more than able trio of keyboards, which provides an admirable musical accompaniment. Gone are massive sets, replaced with a simple selection of projections, with art work from the legendary Vince Cairncross. Add to this some classy props and a beautifully dressed cast and you have a perfect staring point.

At the moment community theatre groups have within their ranks some excellent directors, but sad to say there are those who have to “add their touch”, often destroying the integrity of the show and the authors intention.

Diane Wilson has done no such thing. She has taken the script for what it is, a guide to the actors, and coupled with a fine cast, has kept the slightly complicated story in a very clear and simple light. No embellishment here. The audience knows exactly what is happening at all times. That is further enhanced by the good diction of the actors, made somewhat difficult for them by the need for certain local dialects.

Wilson, aided with simple choreography, moves the cast and a hardworking onstage crew, seamlessly throughout the production so that we are not kept waiting or wanting.

We now have to add the actors to the mix. Who said you should never perform with children or animals. There are no animals in The Secret Garden but two talented children, who more than hold their own with the adult performers. There are two casts of children in this production and I saw Annie Henderson as Mary Lennox, and Ryan Yeates as Colin. These kids are forces to be reckoned with, particularly Miss Henderson who is on stage for most of the performance, giving an intelligent portrayal of the pivotal character.

Add three excellent principal adult performers with Rebecca Carter as Lily, Daniel Kenyon as Archy and Luke Lamond as Neville and you are well on the way to success. With many community theatre productions minor roles are often given to newcomers or mates, to “give them a go”. Not so with this production. The second line of principals has been carefully selected for excellence, and includes Jessica Green, Mitchell Jacka, Neil Litchfield, Amanda Griffiths and Joy Pennock. Each of these performers contributes to a fine balance.

Of course the ensemble enhances the production with fine choral work, singing and moving with grace and style The whole show is a musical delight, and for me the highlight is the duet in Act 2 between Lily and Archy, “How could I ever know”. Worth the price of a ticket just for this one.

The Secret Garden runs again at Bankstown Arts Centre this coming weekend. Don’t miss this one. If you find the show is booked out, which it deserves, go anyway and stand in the corridor just to hear the singing. You won’t be disappointed.

Bob Peet