“Meet Me in St. Louis” at Ocean State Theater

by Richard Pacheco

            Ocean State Theater’s holiday treat is “Meet Me in St. Louis” based on the 1944 movie and it is indeed a treat full of nostalgia, vintage Americana and simple good feelings in abundance. It is a purely fun show, a musical delight that evokes fond memories of bygone days. thing, but got some of the biggest laughs of the night.“Meet Me in St. Louis” is based on the 1944 film with Judy Garland and made it to Broadway in this version in the late 1980s. This show has spirit even with some flaws and is well worth seeing. It was the second-highest grossing picture of the year, only behind “Going My Way.^”
            It tells the tale of the Smith family in St. Louis with the 1904 World’s Fair soon toe arrive and it will be the Smith’s last Christmas in St. Louis before moving to New York for papa to pursue a promotion and a better career, despite the family’s reluctance at leaving the familiar far behind.
           Recent RIC grad Sarah Pothier is daughter Esther, the role played by Judy Garland in the movie and she has an excellent voice, full of energy and poise. She delivers a wining version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”  and in her trio with sisters Rose and Tootie a delightful “under the Bamboo Tree.” Her acting is full of finesse and sincerity.
            Joshua Stenseth is Esther’s love interest the charming and dashing next door neighbor.  He is engaging enough in the role, managing to deliver a sensitive portrayal, but his singing is a bit weak.
            Bobbie Celine Doherty is little sister Tootie, a bundle of energy and feisty. Doherty is sheer delight in the role, and she gets some of the biggest laughs.
            Hannah Spacone is sister Rose who is flighty a bit self absorbed and blind to al the world’s feelings but her own. Spacone gives a engaging performance as this young woman.
            There is also brother Lon, played by Michael Luongo who turns out to be an exceptional dancer as well showing off his stuff in the square dance number and the delightful and winning “The Banjo” number.
            Lily McMahon is sister Agnes, who is Tootie’s partner ins crime at all times. She is a fun foil for Tootie, full of zest and sincerity.
            Rebecca Barko is their mother, Mrs. Anna Smith,  the ever dependable, loving matriarch of the family. She shines in “You’ll Hear a Bell.” She and her husband stand out in “Wasn’t It Fun.”
            Ronald L. Brown is her husband Alonzo, a bit cranky and more than a bit ambitious wanting to get a promotion at work, one which takes him and his family to New York, despite their protests. He was a terrific baritone voice which shines in “A Day in New York.”
            Mark S. Pothier is Grandpa, a warm caring man who loves his grandchildren and has a good rapport with them. Pothier shows a winning side as Grandpa, although his singing voice is somewhat lacking.
            Stacey Geer is Katie the Irish maid. She is full of energy and a distinct presence. She is an excellent singer who knows how to sell a song as she does in her trio with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, “A Touch of the Irish.”
            Director and choreographer  Gary John La Rosa makes some of the acting stylized which sometimes strikes a false note. His choreography however is impressive, from the stunning square dance done to “Skip to My Lou” with its cartwheels and flips galore. Or the rollicking “The Trolley Song” with its vibrant energy.
            Musical director Esther Zabinski is right on the mark with the orchestra, provding a rich musical accompaniment throughout.
            The sets by Charles Murdock Lucas are lovely and loaded with nostalgic touches of Americana. The proscenium mimics the old proscenium arches of turn of the 20^th century theaters with its carvings. Behind three panels in an old fashioned drawing style shows houses and it all opens on to the Smith family house filled with vivid detailed touches like vintage photographs, and a grand staircase.
            The Brian Horton turn of the century costumes are elegant and impressive both in style and number.
            The production has many jobs overall and ends up a special holiday treat well worth seeing and bound to strike a familiar and fond note.
            “Meet Me in St. Louis” runs through Dec. 28 at Ocean State Theatre Company, 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. Tickets are $39-$54. Call (401) 921-6800, or visit oceanstatetheatre.org. 

“Trip to Bountiful” at 2nd Story Theater

by Richard Pacheco

            “The Trip to Bountiful” currently at 2^nd Story Theatre is sheer delight with winning performances and deft direction. It turns into an uplifting story of the indomitable spirit and sheer determination of human will to triumph over all obstacles to their goal, a perfect touch for a holiday spirit.

It tells the tale of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman forced by circumstances to live with her henpecked son and shrill controlling daughter in law, Jessie May. Carrie has one dream, to return to Bountiful, where she grew up, a place full of fondness in her heart. Stuck in her small Houston apartment, she continually tries to escape that limited prison for the broader expanses of her memories rooted in Bountiful, much to the chagrin of her daughter-in-law. Her previous efforts to escape are always thwarted by her son and daughter-in-law’s arrival just as she is ready to escape by bus or train. She tries hard to escape to see her childhood home one more time before she dies. It means the world to her, a treasure she cannot miss any longer, nor avoid, in a sense, her destiny. She is frail but feisty and with a mind of her own no matter what.

            “The Trip to Bountiful” was written by Horton Foote. The play premiered March 1, 1953 on NBC-TV, before being produced on the Broadway stage. Its 1954 staging earned Jo Van Fleet a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play at the 8th Tony Awards. The role of Carrie Watts won Geraldine Page the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film adaptation and Cicely Tyson the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play at the 67th Tony Awards for the 2013 Broadway production, which earned a total of 4 Tony Award nominations.

            Paula Faber is Carrie and the epitome of restraint and determination, dogged determination no matter what she encounters. She will return to Bountiful no matter what stands in her way. It is a quiet determination, an iron will that is usually under control and hidden beneath a savvy restraint. She evolves and grows on you, not just some crazy old lady who is willful and determined with no good reason. She has a purpose and knows what it is and will not relinquish it, ever. Faber is in control and delivers an admirable performance as Cassie, one full of nuance and fine emotional touches.

Nathaniel Lee is her son Ludie. He is totally henpecked and at his wife’s mercy as much as his mother and plays the role of peacemaker and diplomat between the two women with caution and concern. He worries about his mother’s health and recoils at his wife’s cloying, downright ill tempered and self centered disposition, particularly regarding his mother and her pension check. Lee delivers a fine performance, one with a sense of underlying suffering and patience to a fault.

Lara Hakeem is Jessie May whose idea of life is reading movie magazines and drinking cokes. She doesn’t work and lords it over Ludie’s mother like an empress. She rules the roost and knows it. She is only concerned about her wants and needs and non on else’s. She is controlling and offers a daunting presence which hovers over all like a dark cloud. Hakeem’s performance is right on the mark, a picture perfect portrayal of a demanding , self absorbed woman who is only concerned about her desires and needs and no one else.

There is some strong support here with the smaller roles which show up throughout the play.

Joe Henderson is the sheriff who catches up with Carrie and helps her complete her journey to Bountiful. Henderson is caring and sincere in the role humane and understanding of Carrie’s plight and his duties under the law. It is an excellent balance.

The3re is additional strong support coming from Jim Sullivan and John Connery as two bus station attendants. Erin Olsen is there to provide understanding and compassion as a fellow traveler, Thelma, whom Carrie befriends in her odyssey back home and does a wonderful job, sincere and convincing.

There is some find live music on hand provided by Eric Behr, who adds color and depth to the play with musical resonance.

Director Ed Shea keeps a keen eye to period detail here and the emotional substance of the play, providing a rich, vibrant experience. While the play itself does not refer to Christmas it evokes the kind of warm feelings associated with this time of year, through vivid performances and excellent sets.

The set by Trevor Elliot is evocative and fascinating. The earlier large panels of painted scenery are reminiscent of American Painter Edward Hopper, in their moodiness and element of melancholy which pervades them. The ones later in the show are more reminiscent of Andrew Wyeth, still with that element of sadness and sweet remembrance.

“The Trip to Bountiful” runs through Dec. 21 at 2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market St., Warren. Tickets are $30, and $21 for ages 21 and under. Call (401) 247-4200, or visit 2ndstorytheatre.com.