Child actors bring 'terrific instincts' to Theatre Calgary's The Secret Garden
Plenty of kids have dreams of growing up to star in a Broadway musical, but for two young Calgary actors that chance has come early.
Greer Hunt, 13, and Lucian-River Mirage Chauhan, 8, star as Mary Lennox and Colin Craven in Theatre Calgary's production of The Secret Garden. The Broadway adaptation of the classic children's novel opens tonight at the Max Bell Theatre.
Although the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett is more than 100 years old, both young stars told The Homestretch they could relate to the central themes of finding friendship, family and belonging in an unexpected place.
"The Secret Garden gets a very good message out at the end," said Mirage, who described his character, a wheelchair-bound boy with a sour attitude as "a real mess" who slowly opens up through the course of the play.
For Greer, playing orphan Mary Lennox was the chance to bring a familiar character to life.
"Ever since I was little I was watching the movie and reading the book, so it was kind of cool to be playing a character that I already knew."
Director Stafford Arima said working with the young actors has been no different than working with any of the other professionals in the production.
"It's interesting working with great actors who have terrific instincts, it doesn't matter how old they are, it works," he said.
"This production has been really blessed with two exceptional actors who bring to the rehearsal room smart choices, a professionalism and understanding of character."
Balancing work and school
Of course there is one crucial difference. Both young actors have had to balance school work while rehearsing for the production.
"I'm prioritizing, and right now my priority is The Secret Garden," said Mirage, who has already finished his school year thanks to the help of a chaperone and buckling down on breaks during rehearsal.
For Grade 8 student Greer, managing the workload of a higher grade has been a bit more of a challenge.
"There's a little bit more criteria and a little bit more work," she said.
"But I think I'm managing pretty well I would say, just doing work whenever I can between breaks and at home in the mornings."
Greer added that participating in the production has exposed both kids to a different type of learning.
"I think we both develop special skills that not every kid gets to learn when you're at our young age," she said.
Showcasing local talent
The chance for Calgary audiences to see their own young talent up on the stage is something director Arima said he strives to bring to the community.
"When you get to see members of your own community on a stage in a great musical in a fabulous production, it's a really heartwarming experience," he said.
For Mirage, who was bitten by the acting bug when his mother took him to see plays as a youngster, starring in the musical has inspired him to pursue singing and acting as a career.
"I just love singing and dancing and acting," he said.
However Greer, whose father was an actor and exposed her to the arts early on, said she's not yet ready to commit to a career on the stage.
"I would like to explore other things and maybe travel a bit ot see what else is out there," she said. "But I would like to complete something in musical theatre for sure."
The Secret Garden runs to May 19.
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With files from The Homestretch
