Online through January 2, 2021
A lovely old fashioned holiday musical, Meet Me in St. Louis, is admirably served by Irish Rep’s charming, technically innovative production. Though every actor was recorded in a different place, interaction is adroitly directed coming closer to creating the illusion of cohabiting a stage than any other I’ve seen. Actors seem aware of one another. Magical moments include, in part, one player’s arms around another’s neck, laying a Halloween ghost sheet over a child’s head, and fisticuffs. Only ensemble shots are obvious cut-and-pastes. Director Charlotte Moore narrates the piece showcasing talent of a past acting career.
St. Louis, Missouri, 1903-1904. The show opens with Tootie (Kylie Kuioka), the Smith family’s youngest, singing the title song. Kuioka is as irresistible as her character is irrepressible (Tootie is drawn to the macabre in wildly imaginative ways). She has presence, voice, and acting chops beyond her years.
The rest of the Smith family includes: Grandpa (Jay Aubrey Jones), Papa/Alonzo (Rufus Collins, appealingly forthright and sympathetic), Mama/Anna (Melissa Errico, gracefully grown into a maternal role with signature warm vocals); daughters Esther (Shereen Ahmed- Star Material – Lovely voice, winsome presence, accomplished acting), Rose (Ali Ewoldt who manifests wrong-headed petulance irritatingly well), Agnes (Austyn Johnson, awkward), and son, Lon (William Bellamy). Their housekeeper/cook, Katie is wonderfully played by Kathy Fitzgerald whose impeccable Irish accent and affectionately wry observation is pitch perfect.
Esther has fallen in love with and connives to meet “The Boy Next Door,” John Truitt (Max Von Essen – the actor is ingenuous in the Jimmy Stewart mold; engagingly besotted when the moment comes, and, as always, a fine singer). Rose is mismanaging her incipient relationship with Warren Sheffield (Ian Holcomb, a bit stiff) in the name of what she thinks is sophistication. The two love stories carry us through from season to season inching towards the World’s Fair.
Every theater romance must, of course, have an impediment beyond character miscommunication. Here we have Papa’s promotion which requires the family to move to New York City. The poor man is shocked when his exuberance is met with tears. No one wants to leave St. Louis – Esther and Rose because of their men, Tootie because her dolls are buried in the backyard and she’s historically attached, Anna and Katie because they love the place. A holiday ball brings lovers together. Papa changes his mind.
Also featuring Kerry Conte and Ashley Robinson.
Read my article about the estimable Irish Repertory Theatre.
Meet Me in St. Louis
Book-Hugh Wheeler
Songs by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane
Based on The Kensington Stories by Sally Benson
And the MGM film, Meet Me in St. Louis
Adroitly and imaginatively Directed by Charlotte Moore
Charlie Corcoran’s painterly Scenic Design and archival images add immeasurably creating stylized veracity, sentimentally evoking the era. Costume Consultant Tracy Christensen misses only with Anna’s contemporary, spandex turtleneck which makes it look as if Errico wandered into the wrong piece.
Music Direction – John Bell; Orchestrations – Josh Clayton
Pristine Sound Design, Mix & Music – M. Florian Staab
Deftly Edited by Meridith Sommers
Clockwise (L-R) William Bellamy, Jay Aubrey Jones, Melissa Errico, Kathy Fitzgerald, Shereen Ahmed, Austyn Johnson, Kylie Kuioka, Ali Ewoldt.
