The Secret Garden

by Marsha Norman, Lucy Simon (Composer)

A moving adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 novel, the story of a ten-year-old orphan's search for love and self-discovery in her uncle's locked garden. With her Tony-award winning book and lyrics, Norman recreates the classic form of the traditional American musical.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Fiction, Drama

120 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1992

About the author

Marsha Norman is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play 'night, Mother. She wrote the book and lyrics for such Broadway musicals as The Secret Garden, for which she won a Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, and The Red Shoes, as well as the libretto for the musical The Color Purple and the book for the musical The Bridges of Madison County. She was co-chair of the playwriting department at The Juilliard School until stepping down in 2020.

Reviews

[Jackson’s Books & Music · Rating 4 out of 5]

contains problematic depiction of Indian people and culture, as well as some ableism. Otherwise, it is a sweet and emotional show.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marsha Norman’s book and lyrics for the musical The Secret Garden is a delight. This book is a wonderful way to introduce the show or to relive a performance one has seen. I, personally, have seen four different productions of The Secret Garden, and reading the script here brought back so many memories. I also was able to “discover” small things that a theater-goer can miss while getting caught up in the overall production or forget over the years since seeing the show. I decided to re-read the script in order to help with a novel I’m writing in which a production of the show is prominent. But not only did the reading refresh my memory, it opened me up to many possibilities for my own characters’ motivations. A good theater piece should do just that—not only entertain but make us think as to how it applies to our own lives.

[Jessica López-Barkl]

I noticed that this particular book says I've already read it, which is true...but Zia and I listened to the songs from the selections song book. I have always had a soft place in my heart for this musical. It came out when I was a middle schooler and Daisy Eagan won the Tony for Best Actress at 11 years old, and that was very inspiring to a middle schooler. I was also moved by the fact that it was written by two women. The set design of the original production was also masterful. Anyway, it was nice to go down memory lane with Zia and to hear Mandy Patinkin's voice over and over again.

[Lee Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theatre for which I work is doing the Spring Version of this musical. The Spring Version is 90 minutes. The edits (It's been a long time since I saw the original.) seem to be removal of the prologue and shortened songs. I'm sure there are songs that were removed and I don't realize it.

This makes me want to read the Frances Hodgson Burnett book again. I don't think I've read it since i was a kid. It's interesting what I remember (from the book? from a film version?). Statements like this from Mary to Colin: "You're too nasty to die." How did I forget Dr. Craven?

[Kelsey Burnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dark and gothic feeling but ultimately sweet and lovely. Gotta love a nice garden and a happy ending!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite play of all time! I’m not sure when I discovered it, but I loved it right away. The music is beautiful! It was fun to read it.

[Nikki Staszak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Id let a lot of questionable things slide for the sake of my childhood nostalgia of the story

[Rachel Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet heartwarming story about kids and adults helping each other grow through grief.

Would recommend?
Yeah

[Patrick MacLennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a beautiful show with a phenomenal score. Dramatic yet lyrical, it plays like an operetta. It makes me want to read the original

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

In searching for a musical play script for our local theatre I was not hooked by the stodgy gloom and obscure symbolism of this play. The characters are all mostly unpleasant, although wondrously redeemable at the eleventh hour. As a musical it’s more of an operetta (28 musical numbers!) Rather squirm-inducing for kids, for whom this story is supposedly intended.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a classic that everyone should read!

[Shaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has all the lyrics and script. A few swear words but other than that it was good.

[Ashley]

So far I love this book.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better to see on stage, but it is still very good.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to the original classic but magnified by the glorious music...

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the music in this, especially when sung by Anthony Warlow & Philip Quast!

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness only knows how many times I've read it. It kept sending me away and not telling me when to come back and all the song lyrics are messed up but on the whole it's a very good play.

[Sarah Johnson]

sensational

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my kind of book.