THE SECRET GARDEN

Playwright Jeanne Sakata's newly commissioned version of this beloved classic for L.A. Theatre Works is both well produced and thoughtful. It provides backstory for Mary Lennox before turning the dour child over to Archibald Craven, her remaining relative, after an outbreak of cholera takes her family in India. Mary, voiced by Alma Marian, moves from petulance to wonder as she slowly discovers what the Yorkshire moors offer her in terms of friends, family, and the wonders in the garden. This shift is ably reflected by other narrators, as well, notably Ian Ogilvy's Ben Weatherstaff, Jonathan Charles's Colin, and Adhir Kalyan's Archibald, all of whom are won over by the garden's magic. E.J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]