Family's deep love at heart of musical 'Meet Me in St. Louis'
By Michael GrossbergFor The Columbus Dispatch
The Weathervane Playhouse is celebrating a merry Christmas with a familiar fable about a close-knit American family.
"Meet Me in St. Louis," the Broadway musical based on the classic MGM movie, continues through Friday in Newark.
"It's a timeless nostalgia piece with strong family appeal," director Ryan Scarlata said.
"The family is coping with great change. … Families are still facing those issues a century later."
The two-act stage version is based on the 1944 movie set in 1904 and starring Judy Garland as Esther, one of four daughters (along with Rose, Agnes and Tootie) of a St. Louis family facing a move to New York.
"It's one of the most beloved movies ever made," Scarlata said.
"The story and dialogue are much the same, but there's more music onstage."
Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane expanded their film score — best known for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" — for the Broadway version (1989-1990), which was nominated for four Tony awards, including best musical, book and score.
Scarlata has loved the stage show ever since he first saw it, as a pre-teen, in 1995.
"I remember having a very emotional reaction — especially towards the end, when Esther sings 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' to Tootie," Scarlata said.
"It got me in my gut because it's about a family in a real-life situation, unhappy because they're about to move away from the home they love."
Todd Covert plays father Alonso Smith.
"He's a hardworking lawyer who tries to do everything for his family," Covert said.
"With a son at Princeton and two girls going to college, he sees his promotion and New York move as a way to really help his family, … but he doesn't realize how much everyone loves their home."
Covert first saw the film in the 1980s and the Broadway musical in 1989.
"It's such a beautiful story for families to see around the holidays because there's so much love and family values in it," he said.
One of Covert's most emotional songs is "Wasn't It Fun," a duet with Smith's wife, Anna (Linda Kinnison Roth).
"We reflect back on our whole lives. … Alonso realizes they've had so much together and that his decision to uproot the family may not be what's best," Covert said.
In the production,k plays Esther, the second-oldest daughter.
"She's a dreamer and wants so desperately to fall in love," Krak said.
"A lot of her gusto comes from being the middle child and her desire to be heard. … At moments, Esther is mature for her age. But at other times, she realizes that she's only 17."
Krak, a New York resident who grew up in the Newark and Granville area, has previously appeared in several Weathervane productions, including "Guys and Dolls," "Oliver!" and "Spamalot." Playing Esther, though, is one of her dream roles.
"It's been a longtime favorite show, but it's a little intimidating, because Judy Garland's role is so iconic," she said.
Krak worked with a vocal coach for two months to prepare for the challenge of singing Garland's signature songs, including "The Trolley Song," "The Boy Next Door' and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
"As an actor, I approach songs in musical theater as if they were monologues," she said.
"'The Boy Next Door' reflects Esther's insecurity — not knowing whether she's good enough and pretty enough for him — and her longing to fall in love."
The actors agreed that the timing couldn't be better.
"Having this musical around the holidays is very magical and sweet," Krak said.
"It makes you want to hug your loved ones and focus on what Christmas and New Year's can mean."
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