This spring, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 McPherson Playhouse will present The Secret Garden B次元官网网址� twice.

In a strange twist of fate, Ballet Victoria presents its dance version this March, while a version of the Broadway musical produced by St. Michaels University School (SMUS) opens tonight (Feb. 27).

B次元官网网址淲e plan our calendar roughly two years in advance,B次元官网网址� said Paul Destrooper, artistic director of Ballet Victoria. He booked the theatre with no knowledge of the SMUS production, while Morgan McLeod, the new head of theatre at SMUS, had the musical in mind this summer.

It was the McPhersonB次元官网网址檚 staff who first noticed the doubling up, and, while the close timing may cause some confusion, both directors are confident the shows offer different experiences.

B次元官网网址淏allet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 production is inspired by the play written by Michael Shamata,B次元官网网址� Destrooper said. B次元官网网址淲e have no spoken words, but kept the essence of the story intact using dance, mime and acting.B次元官网网址�

McLeodB次元官网网址檚 work will also be partially inspired by a previous production B次元官网网址� he saw The Secret Garden during its original Broadway run in 1991, when he was a student at SMUS.

B次元官网网址淚f I could like it as a teenager, our students today should be able to connect to the story,B次元官网网址� McLeod said.

As a student, McLeod was heavily involved in theatre and he wanted to make sure his first musical as a faculty member resonated.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted something that hadnB次元官网网址檛 been overdone, something challenging for the performers, and something I had a connection to,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址�The Secret Garden was my top choice.B次元官网网址�

The book version of The Secret Garden follows Mary, a newly orphaned child, as she is transplanted to a new home with her mourning uncle and invalid cousin. Destrooper has never read the famed childrenB次元官网网址檚 book, but seeing ShamataB次元官网网址檚 version attracted him to the story.

B次元官网网址淚 enjoyed MichaelB次元官网网址檚 rendition of the story very much, particularly the creation of the motherB次元官网网址檚 ghost as an active participant in the narrative,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was very touching.B次元官网网址�

McLeod, whose previous theatre credits include numerous productions (as both director and performer) at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, said the musical takes some dramatic license.

B次元官网网址淭he musical gives more weight to the adult roles,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 still the same story B次元官网网址� magical and heartwarming.B次元官网网址�

The SMUS production runs Feb. 27 to March 2, while Ballet Victoria takes over March 22 to 24 before taking its show to the mainland and up Vancouver Island. For ticket information for both shows, go to rmts.bc.ca.