‘Secret Garden’ Reveals Notable Voices, Players

Though based on a children’s book, the 1991 musical version of “The Secret Garden” is probably best understood by those familiar with Frances Hodgson Burnett’s popular pre-World War I original.

There’s a lot going on here, and even adults might have trouble sorting out the threads at first. That said, the show--running at the Conejo Players’ Theater in Thousand Oaks--has a lot going for it.

Sisters Lily and Rose are at the center of the story: Rose died in childbirth, leaving husband Archibald and their infant son, Colin; Lily moved to India, where she and her entire household, save for Lily’s daughter, Mary, succumb to a plague of cholera as “The Secret Garden” begins (those red scarves symbolize death).

Mary is returned to England, to live with Archibald, his younger brother Neville--and Colin, who has spent the better part of his life isolated in bed, believed to be terminally ill.

In addition to all the living characters, several ghosts appear onstage from time to time, including those of both Rose and Lily and several members of Lily’s household.

As the play continues, Mary finds a “secret garden” planted by her late Aunt Rose and locked up by the grieving Archibald. Breaking in and nurturing the garden, Mary eventually brings it to life, at the same time (meaningful metaphor alert!) reviving the spirits of Archibald and Colin.

Marsha Norman’s script keeps the major plot points of the original, while understandably eliminating much of the subtlety.

Composer Lucy Simon’s background is in opera and folk music, and the material here is definitely post-Sondheim--meaning don’t expect to leave the theater humming the tunes. On the other hand, several of the numbers are quite lovely, particularly those sung by two or three of the players in counterpoint.

And the voices are among the strong suits of this production: Mark Andrew Reyes as Archibald (Mandy Patinkin in the original); Erin Appling as Lily; and Stuart Berg as Neville among the most impressive. Notable, too, are some of the character players, including Bill Hillstrom as the old family retainer gardener and the animated Joseph Foss as Dickon--either another gardener or the world’s tallest leprechaun.

Amanda Bynes, sensational as Scout in a local production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in January, is perhaps even more impressive as Mary; she’ll be spelled in Sunday matinees by Lady Josae Faulkner. Nick Marinoff and Randy Saxer alternate as Colin: It was Marinoff, just fine, on opening night.

* “The Secret Garden” continues through May 11 at Conejo Players Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday nights, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 Thursday, $9 Friday and Sunday, and $10 Saturday. For reservations or further information, call 495-3715.

Two Wives: Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” will be produced twice this summer, at opposite corners of Ventura County. It’ll be the Ojai Shakespeare Festival’s evening offering, with French playwright Moliere’s one-act “The Imaginary Cuckold” performed on the Dennison Park lawn in the late afternoon.

Shows will run for three weekends, beginning Aug. 2. For information, call 646-9455. Actors Repertory Theater of Simi Valley will produce “Wives” about the same time; more details when they’re available.

Early Notice: With “Damn Yankees” closing this weekend and “Guys and Dolls” yet to come in the current season, the Cabrillo Music Theater has already announced its 1996-’97 series: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in October, “Oklahoma!” in March and “Hello, Dolly!” in July 1997. Call 497-8616 and they’ll send you a brochure.

Casting Call: Auditions for the Conejo Afternoon Theater production of Stephen Sondheim’s and John Weidman’s musical “Assassins” will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Players theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Take sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. For further information, call director Zachary Spencer at 494-3175 or producer Jere-Ray Mansfield at (818) 597-0428.