'The Secret Garden' brings the children's story to life

Will Tuckett’s “The Secret Garden” delights all the senses with dance, poetry, music and puppetry in this classic piece that the Sarasota Ballet reprised after its original commissioning three years ago. 

Much like “The Nutcracker,” this piece is one that brings joy to all ages and could be performed year after year as a Sarasota staple.

Tuckett’s production, set to music by Jeremy Holland-Smith, brings Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s novel to life. The stunning sets that are modern and contemporary portray a traditional British manor and its surrounding grounds. The costumes are subtle yet representative of early 1900s attire. 

The story is told through dancing and a narration written by Alasdair Middleton and performed by Edward French. French’s storytelling transports you to the story of Mary Lennox, a young orphan, who brings life back not only to a secret garden, but also her family.

Making her debut with the Sarasota Ballet was Katelyn May as Mary Lennox. May danced the role of the petulant child with strong technique and long lines. Her expressions were reserved yet brought an air of confidence to the part. She arrives at her uncle’s gloomy mansion angry, stubborn and quite contrary. 

To get her out of her funk, a cheery and bubbly Elizabeth Sykes, dancing the role of Martha, one of Mary’s servants, persuades Mary to go outside get some fresh air and meet her brother, Dickon, danced by Ricardo Graziano. May and Graziano had great chemistry on stage as children seeking adventure. Graziano is a delight to see dance. His energy is boundless as he exudes a natural sense of joy of being on stage.

Dickon introduces Mary to the animals: crow, robin, rabbit and fox, which are all puppets operated by dancers dressed as gardeners. The dancers operating the puppets were so skilled that they blended into the background, making the animals seem even more lifelike.

The crow guides Dickon and Mary to the key to the secret garden, but their plans are thwarted by the gardener Ben Weatherstaff, danced by Ricki Bertoni. Weatherstaff is a grumpy old man with a gait, and Bertoni did an outstanding job portraying the crotchety character.

In addition to discovering the secret garden, Mary discovers her sickly cousin, Colin, danced by Logan Learned. Learned begins the ballet paralyzed from the waist down. With the cultivation of Mary and Dickon, Colin and the secret garden come back to life. Celebrating the regrowth, the ballet closes with May, Graziano and Learned dancing among the daffodils and animals with grande jetés and pirouettes while showered from above with glittering flower petals.