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Charming Puppets Can't Save Flawed Garden Tale
16 Jul
Summary
- Puppet animals play and enchant the audience during the performance.
- The show features striking design and evocative music.
- Storytelling rhythm and focus falter, with disjointed scenes.
The Egg Theatre is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a production of "The Secret Garden." This adaptation by Tom Wentworth features enchanting animal puppets that interact with the audience and a visually striking set design by Kat Heath, complemented by music from Ben Osborn. The Yorkshire Moors are vividly brought to life with innovative fabric and glove designs.
However, the production falters in its storytelling, which lacks a natural rhythm due to relentlessly short and choppy scenes. Director Stephanie Kempson's choice to highlight scene changes further disjoints the narrative, obscuring key emotional beats for young Mary and her cousin Colin. While Bilqees Khalid is a charismatic Mary, her character feels softened. Jack Hunter’s Colin is innocent but misses the book's complex anger and vulnerability.
Supporting characters, particularly those played by Martin Bonger, offer more depth and bite. His portrayal of various roles, including a cruel doctor and a heartbroken uncle, elevates the production. The darker encounters between the doctor and a sickly Colin are a highlight, transforming the show into a captivating story beyond its lovely aesthetic.
