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MEET ME IN ST LOUIS
Wimborne Musical Theatre Society
Tivoli Theatre
Wimborne
June 2003

THIS show, perhaps best known as a 1940s film starring Judy Garland, tells the story of a year in the life of the Smith family of St Louis shortly before the World’s Fair comes to town in 1904. Nothing exceptional happens, save that the two eldest girls fall in love, their brother goes off to college and the family almost, but not quite, moves away to New York.
Yet for all its simplicity it is a charming story, and the foot-tapping score includes several well-known numbers such as the Trolley Song and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
This production, directed by Roy Joseph, was well acted and marked by some delightful performances, in particular those of the Smith daughters Esther (Emma Glazier), Rose (Amy Todd), Agnes (Kirstie Rogers) and Tootie (a sweet, confident seven year old, Olivia Arnold). There were other fine characterisations too, not least Phil Evans’ excellent portrayal of timid boy next door, John Truitt.
However, on the first night at least, there were appalling sound problems that frequently made voices inaudible, and at times the show dragged or appeared to be under-rehearsed, while the chorus simply seemed superfluous.
But if the technical side can be corrected there’s a lot to recommend it.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
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