The audience gave the performers a deafening applause after each musical number.
Jane Mack of the Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands said the production was “an ambitious venture for the talents of Saipan’s students.”
The cast members are students of Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Chacha OceanView Junior High School, Saipan American Education Foundation School, Saipan Community School, and Saipan International School.
“The Secret Garden” is a Broadway musical based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel published in 1909.
The musical was written by Marsha Norman with music by Lucy Simon.
It tells the story of the orphaned British girl Mary Lennox — played by Liezel Tiples of MHS — and her determination to bring back to life a secret garden which she discovered.
The garden belonged to her uncle’s wife. Mary’s uncle walled the garden when his wife died.
As the drama unfolds, Mary discovers another secret in her uncle’s manor — the existence of a sickly boy named Colin Craven — played by Mickey Johnson of SCS. The story ends with Mary succeeding in helping the garden flourish and helping Colin regain his strength, which surprised his father.
The directors of the musical were Dennis Chan, Dowen Jocson and Joseph Martin of Marianas High School with assistant directors Merey Len Denora and Matthew Wheat.
The show’s producers thanked the sponsors which included PIC, MHS, Friends of the Arts, Elite Printing, Hardt Eye Clinic, Lollipops and the Marianas Islands Nature Alliance.
