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SHORT SYNOPSIS
Mary Lennox has lived all her young life in India. One morning she wakes to find she is the only survivor of an outbreak of cholera - her parents and everyone else in the army compound are dead. Mary is sent home to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor, his big house on the lonely Yorkshire moors.

Mr Craven is a recluse, still mourning the death ten years ago of his young wife Lily, who was the sister of Mary's mother. He pays little attention to Mary and she is left to her own devices. Used to being waited on by Indian servants who obeyed her every whim, she is a rather spoilt and bad-tempered little girl, but gradually she makes friends with Ben Weatherstaff, the gruff head gardener, Martha, the maid and Dickon, Martha's brother.

She soon discovers that Misselthwaite is a house with secrets. The servants talk about a mysterious garden, locked up many years ago and the key buried. Then one night Mary wakes to hear strange crying somewhere in the house...

(Source: Souvenir Brochure)

DETAILED SYNOPSIS with musical numbers (courtesy of Carol)

ACT I
It is 1911 or thereabouts in British Colonial India, and young Mary Lennox (Eliza Caird/Tamsin Egerton Dick/Natalie Morgan) awakens one morning to be told by soldiers that her mother Rose (Carmen Cusack), father Albert (Alistair Robins) and all the other residents of the English compound have died of cholera. (Opening)

She is sent home to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven (Philip Quast) in gloomy Misselthwaite Manor, high on the bleak Yorkshire moors. Mary is met at the docks by Archie's stern housekeeper, Mrs Medlock (Dilys Laye) who accompanies her by train and carriage to the lonely house. During the journey Mrs Medlock tells Mary something of the household. That her Uncle is still mourning the death ten years previously of his adored wife Lily (Meredith Braun), that he travels a lot and is often away from home, and that his brother, Dr Neville Craven (Peter Polycarpou) makes all the decisions. (There's a Girl)

On arrival at Misselthwaite Mary is met by Neville, but Archie doesn't want to see her. That night, in bed, Mary is disturbed to hear the sound of crying. Day dawns, and Mary meets the kindly maid Martha (Linzi Hateley) who cheers her up considerably and encourages her to explore the garden. (Fine White Horse)

Outside, Mary encounters the old gardener Ben Weatherstaff (Freddie Davies) who speaks of Lily's garden and tells her that Archie was so distressed by Lily's death that he locked the door to the garden and threw away the key. He also introduces her to the friendly robin who lives in the garden. (It's a Maze)

Returning to the manor, Mary finally meets Uncle Archie, who is polite but distant, pre-occupied as he is with shadows of the past. As he remembers Lily, their meeting and idyllic life together, Lily's ghost appears to him and together they waltz around the drawing room. (A Girl in a Valley)

Outside again, Mary meets Martha's brother Dickon (Craig Purnell) a true country boy who knows all there is to know about plants and wildlife. He teaches her to speak to the robin, and Mary, intrigued by Lily's secret garden, asks the robin to show her where the key is buried. (Show me the Key)

Mary explains to the robin why she wants to get into the garden. "I need a place where I can hide...." (The Girl I Mean to be)

Dickon returns and tells Mary that Spring will soon be here. Mary is still intent on finding a way into the garden, and once Dickon has left, the robin appears and shows Mary where the key is buried. (Winter's on the Wing)

A storm is brewing as Mary meets Archie in the library at his request. Still rather awkward with her, but wanting to show some kindness, he asks if there is anything she would like. Toys, books, dolls, maybe? Archie is taken aback when she asks for some soil in which to plant seeds that Dickon has given her. This awakens painful memories for Archie. Neville suggests that Mary reminds him of Lily, and advises that he avoid her. But Archie is still intrigued by Mary's desire for a garden. (A Bit of Earth)

As the storm continues, Mary once again hears crying and sets off to investigate. At the same time Archie can hear someone singing and thinks it must be Lily. As they both search the gloomy corridors of Misselthwaite, the ghost of Lily appears in a doorway, and Archie declares he is lost without her. (I Heard Someone Crying)

Mary finally discovers who is crying at night. It is her young and sickly cousin Colin (Eddie Brown/Adam Clarke/Luke Newberry) who has been confined to bed since birth. Mary introduces herself and tells Colin something of her life in India, and about her friendship with Dickon. Colin, rude and self-obsessed, is jealous and also convinced he is dying. He tries Mary's patience, they argue and she threatens to leave, but the raging storm frightens them both and they find comfort in each other's company. Colin tells Mary about a dream he has at night, in which a man reads stories to him while he is asleep. (Round-shouldered Man).

Mrs Medlock and Dr Craven burst in and forbid Mary to see Colin again. Mary flees the room, visions of India and the cholera outbreak playing in her head, and finds herself alone in the garden, where a vision of Lily appears to her and shows her the long lost ivy-covered door to the Secret Garden. Taking from her pocket the key which she found with the robin's help, she opens the door and enters the Garden.

ACT II
We hear the voice of Lily as Mary wanders through her garden. (Come to my Garden)

Meanwhile, back in the manor, Neville is trying to persuade Archie to send Mary away and put Colin in hospital. Archie will not agree to this, but he doesn't really know what to do. He feels useless, and decides to leave. He has dreamt that he saw Mary in Lily's garden, and this frightens him. Mary unsettles them both. There is something about her eyes that reminds the brothers of Lily, and as they think of her, Neville reveals that he too was in love with Lily. (Lily's Eyes)

Archie visits Colin's room to read a last fairy tale to his sleeping son. Before leaving, he again refuses to send Mary away, but Neville is persistant so Archie relents and tells him to find her a school. Asking Ben Weatherstaff to keep an eye on the girl, he makes his reluctant departure for Paris. (Race You to the Top of the Morning)

Mary tells Dickon she has found Lily's garden, but that everything is grey and dead, still and cold. Dickon explains that the plants are just dormant, that they are still "wick" (a Yorkshire expression meaning alive) and will spring to life again. He offers to help Mary restore the garden. (Wick)

Colin meanwhile throws a tantrum. He has found a lump on his back and is convinced he is going to die. Mary tells him it's just a backbone lump that everyone has. But the real cause of Colin's upset is that he thinks Mary has foresaken him and is missing her. Mary decides to tell him about the Garden, but he must keep it a secret or she will be sent away. She wants to take him into the garden but he is afraid. Lily appears to him and encourages him to be brave. (Come to My Garden / Lift me Up)

Together in the Garden, Mary, Dickon and Martha invoke magic to make Colin strong and well. He struggles from his wheelchair, tries to walk, but falls. (Come Spirit, Come Charm)

Mrs Medlock finds them and angrily orders everyone back to the house. She informs Mary that the headmistress of her new school is waiting. Mary is ushered into the library to see the headmistress, Mrs Winthrop (Judith Paris) and Dr Craven. She throws a tantrum and Mrs Winthrop departs, informing Dr Craven that Mary is a "medical problem". Neville tells Mary she is preventing Colin's recovery; Mary is convinced Neville wants Colin to die so that he can gain control of Misselthwaite. Neville is furious, and tells her he has another school arranged for her. Back in her room, Martha convinces Mary that she is good for Colin, and that "it's this day, not you, that's bound to go away". (Hold On)

Martha encourages Mary to write to her Uncle Archie in Paris, asking him to come home. (Letter Song)

However, Archie is reluctant to return. Still tormented by his memories of Lily, he walks the streets of Paris in anguish, despairing of ever being able to live without her. But as he pulls a gun from the pocket of his greatcoat he senses Lily's presence. (Where in the World)

Putting the gun away, he weeps as she begs his forgiveness and urges him to return to the garden. Realising that at last he can let her go, Archie sets out for home. (How Could I Ever Know)

As he leaves, he again hears her voice. (Come to My Garden - reprise)

Back at Misselthwaite spring has arrived, and everyone has gathered in Lily's garden where the roses are once again in full bloom. (Come Spirit, Come Charm - reprise)

Archie arrives home excitedly and Neville accompanies him to the garden. Entering the garden, Archie is amazed at what he sees - Colin, not only walking, but running into his arms! Colin explains that Mary, Dickon and the garden have made him well. Archie, finally having doubts about his brother, suggests that Neville takes his Paris flat and offers to help him resume his doctor's practice on his return. He then realises that in his excitement he has completely forgotten Mary. Welcoming her into the family, he gives her Lily's garden for her own, to thank her for all she has done. (Come to My Garden - reprise).