Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel of the same name, The Secret Garden was set apart from the beginning by the composition of its creative team. Not many Broadway shows can boast a female composer (Lucy Simon), director (Susan H. Schulman), librettist/lyricist (Marsha Norman), and producer/set designer (Heidi Landesman)–not to mention an 11-year old (Daisy Eagan) in the lead. This story of a little girl who helps her grieving uncle and sickly cousin regain a taste for life is a delicate, lovely achievement. Steeped in moody Victoriana, it should enchant those who enjoy a more understated style of musical theater. The great cast includes Mandy Patinkin, Rebecca Luker as his dead wife Lily’s ghost, and the perenially underrated Alison Fraser. –Elisabeth Vincentelli Customer Review: THE SECRET GARDEN Is Alive With Genius An Original Cast Recording of any Broadway Musical has many obstacles to overcome from the outset: not only do the music and lyrics have to be enjoyable, and the arrangements must be intriguing, but the recording also must somehow impart the feel of actually BEING in the audience of the Broadway show. Most Cast Recordings fall miserably short of these requirements. Happily, THE SECRET GARDEN, succeeds where most others fail. THE SECRET GARDEN, with music by Lucy Simon and lyrics by Marsha Norman, is a lush, magnificent recording filled with some of the most beautiful and soaring operatic music I have ever heard on or off the Broadway stage. In the classic style of Broadway genius Stephen Sondheim, there are no “puff pieces” on this CD…each song is necessary to advance the story, and once the listener has enjoyed the CD, they will, without doubt, feel they had a front row seat for this lovely bouquet of a show. Since there are 36 different cuts on this CD (after all, most of the dialogue is sung, in true operatta form) it is extremely difficult to choose the musical standouts. The opening of the CD, which sets the tone of this story, is nothing short of brilliant, as it packs a lot of information so effortlessly into song. “Lilly’s Eyes” as sung by Mandy Patinkin, who’s character is lamenting the death of his wife, is chillingly beautiful, as is the haunting duet “Come To My Garden”. The CD’s show stopper is a rousing rendition of an inspirational song called “Hold On”, and is sure to become a Broadway classic. The show’s cast, including Daisy Eagen as the little girl around whom most of the action takes place, Mandy Patinkin as her Uncle, John Babcock, Alison Fraser, and Rebecca Luker have some of the finest operatic voices ever heard on ANY stage. This is a show with a true heart, a brilliant soul, and is, in short a soaring celebration of the Broadway theatre at its finest! Run…don’t walk…to buy this CD. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Carolina Cottage Colonial Windsor Chair-PARENT
Customer Review: Windor Chair These chairs are of very good quality and construction. They compare to similar chairs purchased at three times the price for previously purchased items.

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