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A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
Meet Me In St. Louis
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How can I ignore the boy next door? I love him more than I can say. Doesn't try to please me, doesn't even tease me, And he never sees me glance his way. And though I'm heartsore, the boy next door Affection for me won't display, I just adore him, so I can't ignore him, The boy next door. — The lyrics to "The Boy Next Door", as sung by Esther. |
Ed Romanoff, Brynn O'Malley (Esther) in Meet Me In St. Louis.
(Photo: Gerry Goodstein) |
The appeal of stars Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, such memorable songs as "The Trolley Song," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and direction by Vincent Minnelli have kept the movie in the treasure chest of our cinema memories. So what are we to make of the icky gussied-up over-acted treacle that director Mark S. Hoebee has cobbled together as family entertainment?
Is it really possible to recapture the magic of that charmingly romantic period film? From the evidence, it appears not. However, there is something immediately endearing about Sophie Rudin who, as the perversely adorable Tootie, opens the show singing the first refrains of the title song off-key. To her credit she sounds a bit like O'Brien and also commendably cries on cue. Ms Rudin continued to win me over doing the cake walk and singing "Under the Bamboo Tree." She is not alone singing off-key, as demonstrated more aggressively by Patti Mariano as Katie, the Smith family's out-spoken Irish maid. She also adds a somersault to her full-throttle delivery during a jig in a number called "A Touch of the Irish."
There is no real plot to the story even though, like the original screenplay the show is drawn from Sally Benson's delicate The Kensington Stories. However the more you think about the selfishness of the children carrying on and standing in the way of their lawyer father who has an opportunity to accept a higher paying position with his firm in New York, the more you want to slap them silly. But with or without memories of O'Brien sobbing her head off and Garland pining for "the Boy Next Door," the clanging trolley with those happily singing people on board still has the ability to encourage a craving for nostalgia.
None of the Smith family seem to be in danger of becoming involved in anything more than whether Katie's home-made ketchup is up to her usual standard; whether the two older Smith girls will become engaged; or whether the Smith family will move to New York. However, these quandaries inspire a fair share of superficial responses. Did they really prefer ketchup with their corned beef in St. Louis rather than mustard or horseradish at the turn of the 20th century?
I have no argument with a show that makes no pretense that it is about something. With that as a given, we can say without hesitation that the overture does exactly what it is meant to do: create a warming mood with a medley of lovely familiar tunes. And what could be more inviting than the Smith's Kensington Avenue Victorian home as it unfolds to reveal the lovely interior and folds back again to show us the exterior and outside porch, as nicely designed by Rob Bissinger. Unfortunately, a final backdrop depicting the World's Fair includes a cheesy electrical light display that more closely resembled short circuits.
Director Hoebee and choreographer Denis Jones have collaborated in making the most of the late Hugh Wheeler's non-book and giving the full treatment to too many of the additional songs written by original composers Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the 1989 Broadway production. A ludicrously irrelevant song and dance number "The Banjo," has energy but feels as if it had been lifted from some other show. Christian Delcroix, as Lon, the Smith's collegiate son is terrific and eager to wow us with his dancing feet and dexterous strumming on an invisible banjo.
Whether the cast converges in small groups, larger ensembles or various picture-perfect poses, they are always dressed in beautiful 1904 costumes designed by Thom Heyer. Brynn O'Malley is pretty and charming in the Garland role of Esther and carries off what is laughably the dramatic burden with a lovely voice. Gregg Edelman finds prescribed austerity in the otherwise contentiously bombastic family patriarch. Donna English is notably conciliatory as Mrs. Smith and Julia Osborneis nominally vivacious as older sister Rose. JB Adams, as jovial grandpa and the other Smith children, Christian Delcroix and Roni Caggiano, give proof through the night that they will grow up to like musical comedy. Brian Hissong and Patrick Cummings are comely and sang well as the suitors.
Martin and Blane (God bless them) wrote 10 new songs for the 1989 stage version that sound just like 10 old songs. Maybe you will realize, as I did, that there's ultimately nothing else to do but to let the whole show be what is or isn't, and just hum along. Before the show began the theater formally welcomed the many war veterans in attendance. A color guard from McGuire Air Force Base marched slowly from the aisles onto the stage and the audience sang the national anthem, mostly on key.
The Irish Repertory did a scaled down version last year that received praise from most critics including Curtainup's Gregory Wilson. To read his review go here.
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Meet Me in St. Louis Book by Hugh Wheeler Songs by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane Directed by Mark S. Hoebee Cast: JB Adams, Roni Caggiano, Patrick Cummings, Christian Delcroix, Gregg Edelman, Donna English, Brian Hissong, Patti Mariano, Brynn O'Malley, Julia Osborne, Sophie Rudin Scenic Design: Rob Bissinger Costume Design: Thom Heyer Lighting Design: Charlie Morrison Sound Design: Randy Hansen Choreography: Denis Jones Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes including intermission Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ, (973) — 376 - 4343 Prices: ($25 - $92; student rush $16.25) Performances: Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, Thursday at 2 PM & 7:30 PM; Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM & 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM & 7:30 PM Opened 11/11/07 Ends 12/16/07 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 11/11/07 |
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Musical Numbers
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Act One
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Act Two
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Wicked
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The Playbill Broadway YearBook
Leonard Maltin's 2007 Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin's 2005 Movie Guide
>