The Show Must Go On

Last night Sherri and I watched our granddaughter, Holly, perform in the musical, Secret Garden, at North Raleigh Christian Academy Squire Theater, where she attends high school. Holly plays the role of Martha, the maid of Mr. Archibald Craven who owns a spacious house in Yorkshire England.

In the accompanying picture Martha and Mary Lennox are going to the Secret Garden. Mary is a little girl who lost her entire family due to a cholera outbreak in India. Mr. Craven, her uncle, whom she has never met,  is her only living relative. So Mary was sent to live with him despite the fact that he really doesn’t have time for her. He is nice to her, but very often forgets about her because of his grief over having lost his wife, Lily, ten years earlier. Lily is the sister of Mary’s mother Rose. I mention them because they are ghost like characters called Dreamers.

Holly plays her part very well as her Yorkshire British accent is extremely good. Everyone is amazed at how well she pulls off her role. Last night in one very touching scene Holly’s character, Martha, is consoling little Mary because she thinks Mr. Craven doesn’t like her, and is going to send her away. Actually it is his brother, Dr. Neville Craven, who is trying to get rid of Mary. Mr. Craven is away in Paris, and Martha tells Mary to write him a letter asking him to come home. Martha opens a trunk to get some paper and a pencil for Mary.

Last night Holly was having trouble finding the pencil. She finally locates it, and in her haste to hand it to the little girl she drops the pencil on the floor. Quickly, Holly grabs the pencil while, in her perfect Yorkshire accent says, “My bad!” “My bad” was probably not a term used back in the time before electricity. As they say, “The show must go on.”.

Holly had two solos, and she did them very well. We also saw the musical on Thursday night, and we are going back tomorrow. As always we are very proud of the way Holly is using her God given talents. She has been blessed to have the opportunity to attend such a wonderful school that has provided her an avenue to hone her acting, singing skills. The theatrical department and this Christian school are probably the best in the Raleigh area. Holly is a junior, and is planning to attend Liberty University after she graduates.