When a thing is wick it has a life about it – Maybe not a life like you and me – But somewhere there’s a secret streak of green inside it – Now come and let me show you what I mean. – The Secret Garden

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
– Matthew 11:24-26

Six months before Mistress Mary would not have seen how the world was waking up, but now she missed nothing. – The Secret Garden

Rehearsals have just begun for The Secret Garden. A number of us have already been working on this show for many months.  In fact, I have been chewing on this story for most of my life. Notice the photo of my copy of the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  It’s in pieces, barely held together with masking tape.  I had several books that I went back to over and over again as a child – Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess….and The Secret Garden.  The interesting thing about these stories is that they really aren’t cheerful children’s tales.  Like all enduring stories, they deal with real aspects of living in a broken world. Laura Ingalls, Anne Shirley, Sarah Crewe and Mary Lennox experience death, hardship, illness, abandonment, loneliness.  They all find themselves strangers in a strange land. Yet, their stories teach us so much about living life. This story has something to say to you about your life.  It is a deeply spiritual story full of remembering, renewal and restoration.  I hope you will make plans to see The WordPlayers’ production of it.

– Melanie Leach, Assistant Stage Manager for The Secret Garden