THE SECRET GARDEN
by Athalie J. Reed
Adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden”
Full-Length Play
Classical Drama | Flexible Cast
When Mary Lennox is sent from the British Raj back to her uncle's home in Yorkshire, she has no knowledge of any of the rules or expectations of this new world.
As Mary explores a cold and unyielding home, she meets Dickon and Colin - who are just as neglected as she is. Together, they work to restore a forgotten garden in the grounds, perhaps restoring themselves in the process.
Reed’s bold new adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s seminal work breathes new life into this timeless story.
About THE SECRET GARDEN
Mary Lennox, an English girl being raised in India by her neglectful parents under the British Raj, is orphaned by a cholera epidemic.
She's sent back to her uncle's home, Misselthwaite Manor, in Yorkshire, England. She has no knowledge of any of the rules or expectations of this new world.
Reluctantly at first, Mary befriends her maid, Martha, and Martha's brother Dickon. Together, she and Dickon learn the greatest secret of Misselthwaite – the existence of Mary's sickly cousin, Colin, who is quite as neglected as Mary.
The three of them soon find a forgotten garden in the grounds, and, in secret, they work to bring it back to life.
ATHALIE J. REED is a playwright, novelist, and arts educator based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her other works include THE MUSTARDSEED INN (adapted from J.M. Barrie’s Dear Brutus), THE SNOW QUEEN, a new adaptation of ALICE IN WONDERLAND and BREAKING GLASS, a fairy tale based on Norwegian folklore.
Athalie holds a BA in Narrative Studies from the University of Southern California and an MA in Creative Writing from Salem State University.