The secret’s out!

Peach State Summer Theatre’s “The Secret Garden” is a magical evening, a show that will have audiences laughing, crying, and deeply caring for the characters.

Dr. Randy Wheeler returns to direct this show for the second time. He has described “The Secret Garden” as his favorite musical.

This retired Valdosta State University Theatre professor brings a level of genius to almost every production he touches. With “The Secret Garden,”  Wheeler’s brilliance continues to shine. Each time you see one of his shows, you think he can’t outdo himself. Then, he simply does.

Wheeler nimbly stages this show in so many ways: Haunted Archibald’s ghostly dance, so close, but never touching his dead wife, Lily. The clever staging of memories and ghosts overlapping with the living characters. He mines the emotional nuances, finding humor, love and life amidst the tragedies of widows and orphans.

Wheeler is aided by a spectacular cast. The ensemble of dead military colonists and mystical Indians is riveting.

The supporting cast brings a tremendous level of depth to this compelling story of a young orphaned girl who returns from India as a ward of her widowed uncle.

Terry Snead strikes all the right notes as the elder gardener Ben. Katie Whalley shines, particularly with the song “Hold On,” as the chambermaid Martha. Harris Milgrim’s Dickon has a puckish charm. Liam Harrigan Bickerstaff is fun as the sickly but spirited child Colin. Dave Sucharski’s Dr. Neville Craven is perfect as this story’s tormented villain.

These performers and the rest of the cast create a strong population for the three principal players, who present a tremendous show.

Andrew Edward Thomas Jr. creates the right balance with Archibald, the uncle haunted by the death of his wife, Lily. He could have teetered into the maudlin, or pitiful, or isolated past caring. Thomas’ haunted Archibald has all of these aspects to his character, but there is something more. Audiences care for Archibald, even though the character does little to evoke such sympathy. He has emotionally abandoned his young son to the devious devices of Neville. He shows little interest in his orphaned niece, Mary. He has allowed grief to perilously rule his life and ruin the lives of others. Yet, Thomas captures a spark of decency in Archibald, a spark that he is more than capable of inspiring audiences to ignite. Thomas’ Archibald is a man doomed by a bright and beautiful past.

Megan Wheeler makes that past possible. She plays the ghostly Lily, Archibald’s wife who died a decade earlier, but Megan Wheeler’s Lily is no haunt. No ravaged specter. Her Lily is a radiant angel, which makes the intensity of Archibald’s grief all the more palpable. Wheeler is striking in the role of Lily, from the range of her voice to the grace of her movements to the power of her appearance. Megan Wheeler brings Lily to awe-inducing life.

As does young Hannah Trowell in the pivotal role of the orphaned Mary Lennox. Hannah has created memorable performances in Valdosta’s Gingerbread Players, most notably her performance as the title character in 2009’s “Peter Pan.” But in “The Secret Garden,” Hannah holds her own with the professionals of Peach State Summer Theatre. She is on stage almost from start to finish in this show, and she breathes a full lifetime of experiences into Mary who is at times precocious, bratty, caring, frightened, always intelligent, always ready to speak her mind and, though an orphan, never succumbing to the tragedy of her situation. Hannah Trowell’s Mary is the hope to Archibald’s despair.

“The Secret Garden” is an amazing show. Audiences should visit PSST to see how this garden grows.

This review is based on the Tuesday, June 29, performance.

Showtime

Peach State Summer Theatre presents “The Secret Garden,” Sawyer Theatre, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood. Times, dates, ticket information: Visit the website www.valdosta.edu/psst or call (229) 259-7770. In addition to “The Secret Garden,” PSST is showing “White Christmas” and Disney’s “Mulan” playing in repertory theatre through July 18.