The Secret Garden

I understand that not everyone grew up in a twisted version of Glee, where show choir reigned supreme and no one cared about the football team. So some folks don’t know the heart-melting whimsy of hearing teenage tenors get girls through duets of “Lily’s Eyes” during choir showcases. Such a shame. But thanks to that experience, The Secret Garden musical will always stand out as a paragon of my dorky high school bliss. It takes the lovely simplicity of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s book about a lonely orphan transformed by the power of nature, and pads it out with soap opera hijinks and ghostliness galore. What’s not to love? If you’re lucky, maybe one of the male leads will look your way during “Lily’s Eyes.” Sigh. – Cat McCarrey