I've been reminiscing about Broadway musicals that have come and gone, shows that deserved more credit than they ever received. Nearly everyone has heard at least one rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables and can sing along to Phantom of the Opera's "All I Ask Of You", but there are many good shows with solid numbers that will rarely ever be seen or heard from again. For my next few posts, I'll give tribute to these "Broadway Gems". First up: The Secret Garden.
The Secret Garden opened at the St. James Theatre in April 1991 and ran for a little over a year. Winner of the 1991 Tony Award for Best Musical, it adapts the classic story by Frances Hodgson Burnett for the stage. 10-year-old Mary Lennox is sent to live with a hunchbacked uncle she's never met in England after losing her parents to a cholera outbreak at a British colony. The uncle has troubles of his own, lost in memories and unable to cope with the death of his wife, Lily--Mary's aunt. The isolation and bitterness drive Mary to search out the secrets of the mansion, and find refuge in the garden beyond.
Obviously I suggest getting the CD. With the miracle of YouTube (and thanks to various productions by different regional theatres), I'm able to present a few of the highlights from this somewhat obscure musical.
House Upon the Hill (lyrics): Mary arrives at the mansion, escorted by the dour housekeeper.
I Heard Someone Crying (lyrics): A mysterious crying shakes the household. (Note: bad lighting. The adult female voice is Lily's ghost.)
Girl In The Valley (lyrics): Archibald (Mary's uncle) remembers dancing with Lily.
Winter's On The Wing (lyrics): Dickon, the enigmatic brother of Mary's chambermaid (and something akin to a nature sprite) sings of the start of Spring.
Lily's Eyes (lyrics): Archibald and his brother, Neville (the "villain" as it were) reminisce about Lily. This song has actually become a rather famous male duet.
Quartet (lyrics): The other famous song from the show. Archibald relays a dream he had to Neville, who plots to send Mary away to boarding school, while the ghosts of Lily and Rose (Mary's mother) relive an argument prior to Lily's marriage. (Note: it cuts off abruptly at the end, but that is the whole song.)
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