Book and Lyrics: Marsha Norman; . Score: Lucy Simon. At: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.
Tickets: 773-753-4472 or www.courttheatre.org; $45-$65 ( $25 kids ). Runs through: June 21
The 1991 Broadway musical The Secret Garden can divide die-hard fans of the namesake 1911 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Librettist Marsha Norman and composer Lucy Simon introduced characters not found in the novel, like Dr. Neville Craven ( Jeff Parker ) to serve as a villain, while they also transformed deceased characters into a nearly omnipresent chorus of spirits who haunt or watch over their living loved ones.
But it's not all spiritual New Age revisionism, since The Secret Garden, as a musical, also espouses the novel's overriding idea that nature has the beneficial power to heal physical and emotional pain via this beloved Edwardian tale of the orphan Mary Lennox ( an appropriately dour Tori Whaples ), who uncovers many secrets after she is sent to a Yorkshire estate to live with her melancholy Uncle Archibald Craven ( the impressive high tenor Rob Lindley ) after her parents die from a cholera outbreak in India. Besides, some of the musical's most lovely music goes to the ghosts, especially the ethereal appearances of Archibald's late wife, Lily ( Jennie Sophia, showing off a soaring soprano voice ).
In director Charles Newell's latest effort to scale down a big Broadway musical into the Court Theatre's cozy 251-seat space, The Secret Garden flourishes from strongly sung performances all around under music director Doug Peck ( who has also re-orchestrated the score with more of an Indian flavor for six musicians ).
Some of Newell's conceptual touches are debatably clever or too cutesy, ranging from the early symbolic shuffling of Mary across continents in the form of a child's doll, to the orchestra's flautist ( Suzanne Gillen ) actually personifying the usually unseen garden robin.
Newell's work at reducing down the cast size is mostly successful as the performers have to often double up in many roles. ( The strong-voiced James Earl Jones II and Kevin Webb particularly stand out in this regard. ) There are also sturdy performances from those who don't have to double up, like Elizabeth Ledo and Aubrey McGrath as the team of chambermaid Martha and her nature-loving brother, Dickon. Yet, Newell's decision to entirely excise the visiting school mistress can be confusing.
John Culbert's architecturally chilly unit set of a brick-and-stone courtyard betrays no sign of flora until the end in an impressive and surprising downpour. Against such an austere backdrop, the lovely period costume work of designer Mara Blumenfeld particularly pops into focus with Marcus Doshi's lighting design work.
So even if some of the big Broadway lushness might be missing in Court Theatre's small-scale adaptation of The Secret Garden, it's still very emotionally effective in this concentrated form. Fans of the musical itself should be very pleased, while those with allegiances to the original novel may need more convincing.