DANCE REVIEW: 'The Secret Garden'

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” asks narrator Edward French at the beginning of “The Secret Garden.”

One would think that the Sarasota Ballet couldn’t top its world premiere of Will Tuckett’s “The Secret Garden” in August, but this garden certainly grew to new heights. Opening its 24th season, the Sarasota Ballet performed the “The Secret Garden” flawlessly.

This production that includes dance, theater and puppetry, has the dancers working full-time — not only dancing — but also as the crew performing scene changes of the gates and walls on wheels and the puppetry, as well. The wheeled walls were magical as they transformed the stage from the secret garden to the various rooms of the hallowed Craven Mansion.

The puppetry is still a standout feature of this creative masterpiece that is set to music by Jeremy Holland-Smith. The dancers are not concealed behind their respective puppets, but almost merge as one with their animals, using graceful moments to bring the crow, robin and fox puppets to life. Calvin Farias and Patrick Ward were once again experts as the fox puppeteers, not missing a single moment — even mimicking the fox panting while waiting for the next scene.

Jessica Cohen delighted as Mary Lennox, who starts off as a petulant orphan but blossoms into a happy, loved young girl surrounded by friends and a new family. Her technique is strong and she displays elegant lines, especially in arabesque press lifts by Juan Gil during a scene in which Mary dances with her dead parents, Gil and Danielle Brown, in a dream.

Jamie Carter, Kate Honea and Ricki Bertoni are ever adept at character roles, so much so that Bertoni was recently promoted to Character Principal. Carter was perfect in portraying the melancholy Mr. Craven. Honea stomped around the mansion as the mean Mrs. Medlock. And Bertoni performed as Ben Weatherstaff with a permanent scowl on his face.

Two new dancers to the company made their debut on Friday night: Michael Burfield and Kyle Hiyoshi. Both displayed immense talent and ability. Burfield was buoyant and quick on his feet as Dickon, and Hiyoshi jumped with fervor and might as the bad Dr. Webster.

Sara Scherer lead the female servants, Kristianne Kleine, Sareen Tchekmedyian, Dagny Hanrahan and Ellen Overstreet, with a sunny demeanor that seems to glow across the entire stage. Tchekmedyian was sharp and strong and danced with a very nice style.

At the end of the ballet French states: “Garden is Love.” I think it’s safe to say, we love “The Secret Garden.”