'The Secret Garden' a finally joyful haunting

What happens when you are plucked from your life in India and sent to England to live with an unknown reclusive uncle? That's the answer we find in this charming tale of "The Secret Garden: The Musical," brought to Mount Vernon's Lincoln Theatre by the Theater Arts Guild.

Set at the turn of the century and opening in India with the 10-year-old orphaned and spoiled Mary Lennox (Evangeline Essex-White opening night), having lost both her parents during a cholera epidemic.

This complex, nuanced dramatic musical requires careful attention and understanding the backstory. Best to have read Frances Hodgson Burnett's children's novel of the same name. On stage, Mary is haunted by and throughout occasionally surrounded by "Dreamers," her parents, Indian servants, childhood friends, English soldiers and others. The program note is, "These characters ... haunt her until she finds her new life in the course of this story They are free to sing directly to us, appearing and disappearing at will."

So, Mary is haunted.

The dark English country estate of her uncle's where Mary is immediately transported appears to be haunted, too. (and in the end is – both literally and spiritually). There, the Dreamers sing "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."

Her uncle Archibald Craven (Tim Abbott-Brown) gives her little love and attention: He has been in mourning for years after the death of his beloved wife and Mary's aunt, Lily (Mackenzie Usher). After her death, in his grief, Archy insisted that Lily's walled garden by shut forever – and, over the years, it has become overgrown with weeds so that even the locked door is nearly impossible to locate. Given Archy's lack of interest in running the estate – or even living his life – his manipulative brother Dr. Neville Craven (TJ Anderson) has taken over.

This is as much an adult play as for children. The Craven brothers relationship is complex. When the brothers sing "Lily's Eyes," Neville reflects: "She (Mary) has her eyes, she has my Lily's hazel eyes./Those eyes that loved my brother, never me./Those eyes that never saw me,/Never knew I longed to hold her close,/To live at last in Lily's eyes."

Secrets, as much as everlasting mourning, makes people sad, as does isolating children away in bed. Sunlight, gardens, growing things, productive projects, company, relationships and singing, on the other hand, will make you smile.

Poor Mary, ignored and cautioned to stay away from the garden, hates her lonely new home and doesn't recognize or understand her uncle's constant drinking. But, then, she finds the garden. And it becomes her haven, the contentment she doesn't find inside her home. She begins a quest to revive the garden, develops a strong, intimate friendship with Archibald's son, her sickly cousin, Colin (Violet Rowley), who lives in the mansion and finally has a reason to get out of bed.

Neville, the doctor brother, has been "treating" Colin since his mother, Lily, died in childbirth. Yes, he has alternative motives and they are not good ones.

Once again, the servants are more interesting and humane, particularly the caring Martha (Karen Polack) and Martha's crafty and lovable brother Dickon (Benjamin Usher), who is also a fabulous singer. He is a lively sprite, with a unique staff and an enthusiasm and joy overflowing. He guides Mary on her journey along several paths: understanding family secrets, restoring a neglected garden and ultimately piecing together all the paths into one.

These cast members sing their hearts out, with the "Finale" worth the wait. Be prepared to hear how a novel's spoken dialogue has been transformed into lively and lyrical music in the production's 29 songs. There is also plenty of wonderful dancing, choreography, imaginative scenery and period costumes throughout. This production has intriguing and original "live" music, brought to you by the wonders of technology and electronics and all from the back of the room (keyboardists Jennifer Campbell and Quinn Krivanek).

It's also a real family affair. Mothers, along with their real-life children and siblings, fill the stage. It's obvious that they are enjoying acting together; there's a "chumminess" that is evident throughout.

This specific secret garden is a magical place – and a magical production. There's intrigue, lots of conflicted emotion, even clandestine plans. The spirits, the Dreamers, roam among the living throughout.

Performances are weekends through Dec. 21.

Directed by Dr. Terri Brown, Music Director David Brown, Choreographer Mackenzie Usher, Costumer Tiffany Varker. Executive Producer Emily Abbott-Brown, producers Matthew Bianconi and Abigail Hanson.

"The Secret Garden: The Musical" ran for 709 performances on Broadway after opening in 1991. It won three Tony Awards.

Book by Marsha Norman with composer Lucy Simon.

Tickets and times at ­lincolntheatre.org/ or 360-336-8955.