Wow!

Stage transformed into magical garden
Friday December 7 2007
Ashley Goodfellow






Blythe Wilson as Winter (right) is one of the standouts in a phenomenal cast, which includes Leisa Way as Summer.


THE GIANT'S GARDEN

THEATRE ORANGEVILLE

Any successful fairy tale will adhere to a familiar structure -- a story built on fictitious characters and fanciful events intended for a younger audience.

In Theatre Orangeville's world premiere of The Giant's Garden, a musical fairy tale drawn from the Oscar Wilde story The Selfish Giant, it's an adventure that sheds light on a lesson we could all use reminding of.

The production presents an array of situations that stem from an act of "selfish" behaviour, which lays the groundwork for the moral lesson of this particular story.

Oscar, a young boy, enters the Giant's garden without invitation, sparking unrest with the other runaway children, and trouble stirs when the grouchy, child-eating Giant returns to his home.

But when the ferocious and ominous Winter makes her entrance, the winds of conflict blow icy cold and thrust her sister, Summer, from her seven-year reign over the Giant's garden.

All the while, garden residents Flower and Bird work together on a strategy to restore their happy home.

While the story works, and is effectively entertaining, the script is a little dilute in areas; it would serve the writers well to embellish the plot a little further -- particularly in developing the Giant's character. Although we can suppose we understand the Giant, we really know very little about this creature and his garden.

That's not to say the writing is weak -- the script is really quite consistently funny and translates easily to an audience of younger or older patrons.

However, there are two elements that separate this production from your run-of-the-mill fairy tale: the set and the music.

The garden itself is worth the price of admission. Set designers Steve Lucas and Lindsay Anne Black transport viewers to a whimsical, fantastical setting with a number of capricious applications that are charming and clever.

As well, the costumes by Vandy Simpson are brilliant in design and effect.

The music, written and composed by Peter Fenton and Scott White, is as unexpected as some of the hidden gems in the set.

Covering several genres -- with music ranging in style from show tune to bebop jazz -- the songs give the production additional depth and colour.

It also enables the young participants in the production to showcase their talents, as the TOYS choir and as soloists.

A phenomenal cast supports The Giant's Garden, and particularly outstanding were Blythe Wilson as Winter and Elisabeth DuBois as Constance.

Wilson is graceful and polished in her performance. She brings a delightful charisma to the role of Winter, and uses a delicate prowess to embody the fiercest of seasons. You can't ignore Winter's presence, once she arrives, nor will you want to.

As Constance, leader of the runaway kids, DuBois strikes a balance between tough and tender, giving her character depth. A natural on stage, she delivers a clean, sharp performance.

This production is recommended for anyone who wants to find their inner store of mirthful glee, and for those that just love a good, fantastical family adventure.

The Giant's Garden runs until Dec. 23 at Theatre Orangeville. For tickets, call the box office at 519-942-3423.

Ashley GOODFELLOW

Stolen from the Orangeville Banner:
http://www.orangevillebanner.com/article/39467