‘Secret Garden’ opens at Chester on Nov. 20

Actors, as a rule, relish playing dynamic characters – ones who change over the course of a show.

So Marisa Piccininni says she is looking forward to playing Mary Lennox in the production of “The Secret Garden” that opens today at Chester Theatre Group.

“Mary is an interesting role to play,” says 10-year-old Marisa, a fifth grader at Valley View Middle School on Watchung. “She changes drastically. She starts out as a brat, but she ends up nice.”

The fact that Marisa is able to make that kind of mature observation about a role is one reason why Clifford Parrish, who is directing “The Secret Garden,” is grateful to have cast her in the role.

“Mary may be the biggest role for a child. It may even be bigger than Annie,” says Parrish, who is also serving as musical director. “Marisa is a natural in the role.”

Marisa’s only previous theatrical experience was a school production of “The Princess and the Pea.” “This is my first real play,” she says.

“There are a lot of lines, so you can’t be all over the place,” Marissa says. “But the actors are amazing and talented, and Cliff is a very good director.”

Though 11-year-old Mary Lennox is at the center of “The Secret Garden,” the musical itself is far from being a “kid’s show,” according to Parrish. “This is a story of love and redemption,” he says.

“The Secret Garden,” based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, has Tony-winning book and lyrics by Marsha Norman (who won the Pulitzer for the play “’night, Mother”) and music by Lucy Simon, older sister of singer-songwriter Carly Simon.

Mary Lennox lives in India when the country was ruled by Britain. A cholera outbreak leaves her an orphan, so she is sent back to England to live with her uncle Archibald Craven (played by Peter Dopson) and her cousin Colin (Bobby Becht).

The situation is far from ideal. Mary knows no one in England. Archibald still mourns the death of his wife, Lily, and Colin is sickly.

However, Mary ultimately befriends a boy named Dickon (Jack Pacetti) and works with him to revive a long-neglected garden. Their efforts help Mary blossom herself, while bringing her uncle and cousin out of their respective shells.

Parrish says that he has long wanted to direct “The Secret Garden” and has considered the show one of the items on his bucket list. “It’s got a beautiful score, and it’s a great showcase for the singers,” he says.

At the same time, the show poses some challenges. Ghosts punctuate the action of the play and serve as a Greek chorus.

In this respect, the theater-in-the-round layout of the Black River Playhouse in Chester is ideal, according to Parrish. He is positioning the ghosts at various points in the space, so the music surrounds the audience.

“This is an intimate show, and we have an intimate space,” he says. “We have nooks and crannies that lend themselves to this show.”

“I consider myself a storyteller,” Parrish says. “My goal is for the audience to come away with a full understanding of the story.”

Parrish hopes that audiences will respond to that story and particularly to the character of Mary. “What impresses me most is Mary’s determination. I actually identify with her.”

“It’s a great message,” Parrish says. “She has a desire to create this thing of beauty, and that makes a difference to everyone in the household. The idea is that things can be different, that everyone can change.”

THE SECRET GARDEN

WHEN: Through Dec. 6, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (plus Thursday, Dec. 3);

2 p.m. Sundays.

WHERE: Chester Theatre Group at Black River Playhouse, corner of Grove and Maple Streets, Chester.

TICKETS: $25 ($23 for students and seniors).

INFO: 908-879-7304 or www.chestertheatregroup.org