9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A disappointing adaptation..., January 13, 2006
This review is from: The Secret Garden (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)
I'm giving this version 3 stars, as a sort of compromise with my kids, who both enjoyed it... I thought the production quality was fine, but the adaptation itself was very poor.
First, the story is changed to a first person narrative where Mary (now an old woman) tells the story. This might have been an acceptable framing technique, but changing the entire story to first person for no clear reason was awfully annoying. I would have far preferred a simple narrator and fewer changes to the text itself.
There was also a lot of "interpretation" that went far beyond the original text. I felt this version was "talking down to" me and my children, as if we couldn't possibly understand the story as written. ... Now I disagree with the previous reviewer who felt this version inserted Christian themes that had not existed in the original. On the contrary, I thought on that level it was quite close to the original. The only mention of anything religious is the scene in which the children sing the Doxology ("Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.") which was pulled exactly from the novel.
My other objection was that none of the characters were particularly "hard" in the beginning. Mary, Mrs. Medlock, Ben Weatherstaff, etc, were all pretty darn sympathetic right from the beginning. Seeing them come to life is far less effective when they all seemed to be more or less alive to begin with. I wanted more change, more growth... I didn't need kinder, gentler characters with which to begin the story.
Over all it does follow the story pretty closely, but I felt keenly the loss of some of the original language and feel of the novel. I had enjoyed the Focus on the Family adaptations of the Chronicles of Narnia, but wish I hadn't spent money on this one.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, February 23, 2006
This review is from: The Secret Garden (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)
Focus on the Family puts on the best Radio Theatre Productions - they're vivid and beautiful. The Secret Garden was one of those "beautiful" productions, truly excellent.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Secret Garden (Radio Theater), April 2, 2010
This review is from: The Secret Garden (Radio Theatre) (Audio CD)
Even though I am a senior citizen, THE SECRET GARDEN has always been a favorite book of mine. The Radio Theater presentation is delightful and I have enjoyed listening to it in my car. Will definitely be sharing this with my Great Granddaughter.
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