Study Guide

Globe Theatre is delighted to feature The Secret Garden as its annual family holiday production. Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved children's classic published in 1909, this award winning musical adaptation captures the beauty and magic of the original story which has entertained generation after generation of school children. The book and lyrics for this adaptation were written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman. Music is by Grammy Award winning musician Lucy Simon. The Secret Garden opened on Broadway in 1991. Marsha Norman received a Tony Award for "Best Book of a Musical." The show's star Daisy Egan, who played Mary, became the youngest actress to receive a Tony. The musical has since received countless productions and is a favourite among companies producing musical theatre and family entertainment.

The Secret Garden is the beautiful and uplifting story about Mary Lennox. Orphaned while living in India, Mary is sent to England to live with her uncle Archibald Craven in his dark and gloomy mansion on the Yorkshire moors. Mary's arrival lifts the shadow of grief cast upon the manor, and restores joy, hope and life to the family inside.

The Secret Garden is a story loved by many school children. For students who do not know the story or have not experienced live theatre, the following play synopsis may help them understand and enjoy the play:

ACT ONE: The Secret Garden is set in the early 1900's. The opening of the musical is mysterious and dreamlike. In an area of the stage representing the garden, a beautiful woman, Lily, sits in the branches of a tree. She is singing. Lily is a spirit from the past, fondly remembered by the play's central characters. She is a link between characters, and helps them discover knowledge and answers. Lily will guide the play's main character, young Mary Lennox, along an adventurous and challenging journey which begins in India.

As the play opens, Mary is living in India. She is a spoiled and lonely child, neglected by her mother and left in the care of her Ayah, an Indian servant. India has been stricken by cholera. Mary's life is about to be overturned by this epidemic. The characters in this scene - Mary's father Albert, her mother Rose, their friends, and Mary's Ayah, are at a party. They play out the spreading of the epidemic in a game of "drop the handkerchief." The red handkerchief signals death. One by one, Mary's family and everyone around her are destroyed. Remarkably, Mary survives. But she is alone and frightened. With no one to care for her, Mary is sent to England to live with her uncle Archibald.

Mary's Ayah, her parents and their friends become spirits, like Lily. Referred to as "Dreamers", they appear throughout the play, narrating the story through their beautiful songs and guiding Mary safely through her adventures.

Mary arrives in England to be greeted by the stern Mrs. Medlock, her uncle's housekeeper. Mrs. Medlock accompanies the young girl across the Yorkshire moors to her new home, the gloomy and gigantic Misselthwaite Manor. The Dreamers evoke the mysterious atmosphere of Misselthwaite, singing:

High on a hill sits a big old house
With something wrong inside it.
Spirits haunt the halls
And make no effort now to hide it.
What will put their souls to rest
And stop their ceaseless singing?
Why do they call out children's names
And speak of one who's crying?

The atmosphere of the home is very dark and foreboding. Mary thinks she hears voices and crying. Like any curious child, she begins to explore her new home. Keeping her safe along the way and guiding her through her adventures are Lily and the Dreamers.

Mary is at first mean and rude to her servant Martha. She thinks Martha is uncaring, like everyone else she has encountered in her life. But Martha is different. She is sympathetic toward Mary. Martha is friendly and cheerful, and has many pleasant stories about life on the Yorkshire moors and outside the manor walls.

A tender moment in Archibald's memory reflects the love he shared with Lily, who married him against the wishes of her family. He remembers their happiness at Misselthwaite, and the joy she found in her garden. His dream is interrupted by Mary, who wants to know more about Lily, a face she knows only from a photograph. Mary bears a strong resemblance to her aunt, making it difficult for Archibald to face his niece and reluctant to answer her questions about the house and the family.

Outdoors, Mary begins to explore the series of mazes on the grounds of Misselthwaite. She meets Ben Weatherstaff, the groundskeeper. Ben has worked at the manor for years, and is able to answer Mary's questions about her family, especially her aunt Lily. Ben used to work closely with Lily, helping her tend a beautiful enclosed garden. After Lily died, Archibald ordered the garden locked, and buried the key. Over the years, the door became lost among overgrown vines and weeds. With a bit of coaxing from Ben and from a friendly robin, Mary becomes even more curious about the secrets of the garden and of her new home.

As Mary spends more and more time outside, she begins to change. She is healthier and more cheerful. She becomes more and more interested and inquisitive about the mysterious garden that seems to be off limits to everyone except for the playful robin who keeps "teasing" Mary with his cheerful song.

For the first time in her life, Mary begins to experience friendship. Martha, her brother Dickon, and Ben become Mary's friends. Dickon gives Mary some seeds, encouraging her interest in the garden. He entertains her with stories of the spirits and magic of the moors, and advises Mary to look for the answers she seeks in the nature around her, including the song of the robin. Dickon's advice pays off. Mary is summoned back to the house by Martha. But the robin signals to her, stopping her for a moment - just long enough to discover the missing key to the garden! Now, if she can only find the door!

In Archibald's study, he discusses Mary's future with Dr. Craven. There is tension between the two brothers. Dr. Craven is bitter and controlling, and seems threatened by Mary's presence at Misselthwaite. He insists she be sent away to school, and suggests that Archibald leave Misselthwaite and the memories that haunt him.

Archibald appears to soften toward the girl. He kindly grants her request for a patch of earth in which to grow a garden. Dr. Craven considers this a mistake. Both brothers are moved by Mary's resemblance to Lily. In their touching song, Lily's Eyes, Dr. Craven's own love for Lily is revealed, as well as the heartbreak he felt when she fell in love with Archibald.

She discovers a boy her own age alone in a room. The boy is Colin, the son of Archibald and Lily. He has been confined to his bed since birth. Colin is a sour, spoiled child. He is rude, much like Mary when she first came to Misselthwaite. Colin is convinced that his father hates him, that he will be deformed, and that he will surely die soon. Mary has little patience with Colin's whining, but is finally able to console him. She reminds him that they are cousins, striking a bond between the two children.

Their meeting is interrupted by Mrs. Medlock and Dr. Craven. Chaos erupts. Mary and Colin are torn apart. Colin's screaming and the confusion of the moment bring back painful memories to Mary. She remembers the commotion and confusion of the epidemic and for the first time, recalls events that occurred the night her parents died. Mary rushes outside into the storm. However, the Dreamers keep her safe and guide her to an exciting discovery - the door to the secret garden!

ACT TWO: Mary dreams about how lovely it would be to be part of a family. But her dream turns into a nightmare when Colin is wheeled in by Mrs. Medlock, and Dr. Craven drops a red handkerchief into his lap. Mary realizes that Dr. Craven actually wants to be rid of Colin so that he can inherit the manor.

Haunted by dreams of Lily and the resemblance of her in Mary, Archibald is convinced to leave Misselthwaite. He continues to be pressured by Dr. Craven to send Mary away to school. Archibald's memories of Lily include the heartbreak she experienced by her family's opposition to her marriage. Lily's choice ended the relationship she had with her sister Rose.

Dr. Craven convinces Archibald that he must stay away from Colin. This gives the doctor more power over the fate of the young boy.

Archibald makes an effort to say goodbye to Colin before leaving for Paris, and reassures the boy that he will be in good hands, under the care of his uncle.

Outdoors, Mary and Dickon find the garden gray and cold, full of dead branches and leaves. Dickon is optimistic and talks of the magic of "wick", a Yorkshire term for life. Dickon assures Mary that no matter how lifeless something appears, the presence of "wick" will allow it to grow into something beautiful. All it needs is care and nurturing to help it grow. With this hope, Mary and Dickon begin to tend Lily's garden.

Indoors, Colin throws one of his daily tantrums. Mrs. Medlock orders Mary out of Colin's room, but Martha convinces her to let the girl stay. Colin insists that a lump is forming on his back, and that he will die soon. Mary is able to calm the boy, and when the two are left alone, she reveals the secret about his mother's garden. Mary plants, in Colin, a seed of hope that he may one day leave his room and visit the garden. They plan for Mary to visit him daily with news of the garden's progress. But they must keep her visits undiscovered by Dr. Craven, who wants to send her away. Mary's good news lifts Colin's spirits and he rests, dreaming about reuniting with his mother in her beautiful garden.

Mary keeps her promise and with the help of Martha and another servant, Colin is brought to the garden. Dickon and Mary perform a charm which they believe will heal Colin. With the help of the Dreamers and the magical surroundings, Colin stands on his weak legs. He is determined to walk again. Dickon, Mary and Ben promise to stand by Colin, keeping up his visits to the garden until he can surprise his father with his regained health and strength.

A visitor arrives at Misselthwaite. Mrs. Winthrop is head mistress of the Aberdeen School for Girls, where Dr. Craven plans to send Mary. Mary revolts, screaming that her uncle would never allow her to be taken away. Mrs. Winthrop is insulted and leaves. Alone, Dr. Craven and Mary argue. He tells her that her resemblance to Lily drove Archibald away and that her influence on Colin is a risk to the boy's health. Mary accuses Dr. Craven of interfering with Colin's recovery, and of plotting to take control of the home.

While helping Mary pack for school, Martha tries to console her. She reminds Mary of the changes that have occurred since she arrived at Misselthwaite. Martha advises Mary to write to her uncle and ask him to return home.

Living in Paris has done little for Archibald's spirits and he seems lonelier and sadder than ever. Mary's letter, in which she mentions the garden, evokes Lily's spirit, who convinces Archibald to return home, to care for their child and to enjoy the garden, where a part of her will always be alive.

By spring, the work of Ben and the children has restored Lily's garden back to its splendour. Flowers bloom all around and the garden is a beautiful playground for three healthy and vigorous children - Colin, Mary and Dickon. Their games are interrupted when Archibald and Dr. Craven enter the garden. The children are frightened for a moment - their secret has been discovered by Dr. Craven. But the reunion between Colin and his father relieves all tension. Archibald is overjoyed in seeing his son healthy and able to walk. He is grateful to Mary for the changes that she has brought to Misselthwaite and to their lives, and welcomes her into the family and into their home.

Frances Eliza Hodgson was born in 1849 in Manchester, England. At the time, Manchester was England's cotton textile "capitol." The Hodgsons were an affluent family, owning a successful furnishing and hardware business. Mr. Hodgson died when Frances was only three, and the family business was threatened. Tough times were ahead for the local economy as the cotton industry would be hard hit by the American Civil War. The Hodgsons moved to a poorer Manchester neighbourhood where they would live alongside the families of many factory workers.

By three years of age, Frances could read. Growing up, she would entertain herself with popular novels. By ten, she was writing poetry. Frances was fascinated by the Lancashire dialects of the children and families in her neighbourhood. She would imagine stories about their lives which, in later years, would surface in her writing.

In 1865, the Hodgsons received an invitation from an uncle in Tennessee to immigrate to America. Frances was fifteen when the family settled in New Market, close to Knoxville. She enjoyed the natural surroundings of her new home in America. Frances loved exploring the woods. She learned to identify the plants and trees, and enjoyed the birds and wildlife. Her love of nature would remain strong her entire life, and would influence her writing and storytelling.

Frances' first published story appeared in Godey's Lady's Book in 1868. She was paid thirty-five dollars, a fortune in those days. A second story was requested by the editor. She soon began publishing regularly in women's magazines and became her family's main source of income. Within a year, Frances had saved enough money to move the family to a home in Knoxville.

In 1875, the Burnetts moved to Paris where Swan could advance his studies. Frances was under contract with Peterson's Ladies Magazine, supplying them with two stories a month. She also worked on a lengthy story for Scribners, which would become her first book That Lass o' Lowries. The book became a best seller in the United States and Britain.

The family moved back to the U.S., settling in Washington. Frances was becoming increasingly popular, her novels enjoyed by readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Copyright laws in Britain at the time did not protect her stories against being adapted to the stage. Several productions of That Lass o' Lowries played and she received no royalties. From then on, Frances began creating her own dramatic versions of her popular works. Eventually, she would be involved in a court battle that would alter copyright law and prevent playwrights from dramatizing stories without an author's permission.

Her first book for children was Little Lord Fauntleroy, an instant hit earning Frances enormous success. Her stage adaptation would play on Broadway and tour the U.S. Next, she wrote the popular Sara Crewe (a longer version became A Little Princess). The characters of these stores were children who would suffer the loss of one or both parents, and whose spirit would be tested by a series of adventures.

After ten years at Maytham, Frances moved back to the U.S., building a home on Long Island, N.Y. The grounds of her new home, like Maytham, featured spectacular gardens. The environment was perfect inspiration for The Secret Garden, which was published in 1909. The Secret Garden was well received by critics, but did not gain the same attention as her earlier novel, Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Forty years later, long after the death of Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden experienced a "rebirth" among critics, who recognized the masterful quality of the writing and storytelling. The Secret Garden experienced fame among a new generation of readers, and went on to become one of the best selling and most beloved children's books in the English language. Film and stage versions of this fascinating story continue to entertain audiences worldwide.

Carpenter, Angelica Shirley & Jean Shirley. Frances Hodgson Burnett: Beyond the Secret Garden. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 1990.

Globe Theatre's production of The Secret Garden is a unique and innovative approach to this complex, lavish musical which is traditionally played on a proscenium stage and performed by a large cast. Globe's 20' x 20' in-the-round stage is cleverly designed to accommodate thirteen different locations, from exotic India to the misty Yorkshire moors to the eerie halls of Misselthwaite Manor. A centre revolving staircase and stage assists the seamless movement of scenes and changes of location. The theatre is used to its full advantage, from floor to ceiling. Action, lighting, sound and scenery are featured all around. The play's final scene, which unveils the garden in full bloom, is a design treat.

The Secret Garden is directed by Ruth Smillie, who has assembled an outstanding company of designers and actors. Wes D. Pearce returns as Costume Designer, and is also making his Globe debut as Set Designer. His stunning designs overcome the challenges of the play's complex settings and multiple characters, plus reflect the warmth of the story and its themes of renewal and regeneration of spirit. Michael Whitfield's fabulous lighting design enhances the atmosphere of each mysterious, exotic and breathtaking scene.

The Secret Garden features a cast of thirteen, including three young local performers. Tatiana Maslany plays Mary. The role of Colin is shared (in alternating performances) by Addison Becker and Zach Phair. Students who attended last season's production of Honk! will recognize three returning actors: Matthew Cassidy, Stella Salido Porter and Duncan Stewart. Also in the cast are: Renée Brad, Greg Campbell, Julia Jamison, Scott Lancastle, Anne McGrath, Tracy Michailidis and Geoffrey Whynot. The musical demands of this production are significant. As well as having vast acting experience, many of the performers have solid careers in musical theatre or as singers.

Allison Hui, a student at the University of Regina, is the Musical Director and accompanist for the production. She will perform live onstage, along with cellist Bruce Radmacher, also a U of R student. Allan Rae has arranged the complex and elegant score. The production also features intricate choreography by Tracy Houser.

The Secret Garden is suitable for students in all grades. Teachers of grades K-2 may find it helpful to discuss the story with students prior to attending the production. Students will enjoy the spectacle of the production. Months of planning, drafting, sketching and building sets, props and costumes have gone into this show. Students will also be impressed by the music and the performances. Audiences of all ages will be touched by the themes of family, loss, love, nurturing, rebirth and renewal.

The Secret Garden plays November 24 - January 4^th on Globe Theatre's Main Stage. The play is approximately 2¼ hours in length. There is one intermission. School matinee performances are made possible through sponsorship by TD Canada Trust. School matinees are sold out. However, there are tickets available for regular performances. Traditionally, our holiday production sells out, so we encourage you to call now for tickets, 525-6400. Ticket prices are $25 - $27.50 (Regular), $18.75 - $20 (Senior) and $15.00 (Student).

We appreciate hearing your responses to the production. Please e-mail your feedback to: onlive@globetheatrelive.com.

•The Secret Garden - Students who have read the book or watched a film version of The Secret Garden may enjoy discussing the differences and similarities between Globe's production and the original story (or, if film, the version with which they're familiar).

What were some of your expectations before seeing the show? What surprised you most about this production? What were some of the most noticeable differences between the book and the musical? What events, situations or characters from the original story were eliminated? Were there characters or elements from the story that were given greater significance in the musical? What are some of the challenges a writer might face when adapting a book or classic story for the stage?

The Secret Garden is one of the most beloved children's stories in the English language. Why has this story remained so popular? What are some of the messages and themes that still speak to audiences and readers? What is most compelling about this story? Why are we so drawn to these characters?

How did Globe's production fulfill some of the demands of the story, such as the complex and numerous locations and settings? What effects were used to indicate changes of location? What was the atmosphere of the indoor scenes? How was this mood conveyed? How were the outdoor scenes established? What effects were used in the dream scenes?

How was the stage used to accommodate the multiple locations and settings? How did the designs of the show evolve from the beginning of the story to the end?

Students might enjoy exploring their own designs for the story, choosing a scene or character and designing the setting or costume. What are some unique ideas? How do the students' designs differ from Globe's production?

How might different staging (i.e. proscenium, thrust, etc.) or a larger space effect the show's design?

How do the designs of the production underscore the development of the characters? How are changes in Mary and Colin reflected?

How are the Dreamers different from the other characters in the play?

Please call Karen Jurzyniec for more information about student matinees or Talkback Tuesdays: 525-9553, ext 22