arsenic and old lace  


Directed by Brad D. Fowler

Asst. Director: Virginia Church

Music Direction: Sid Yadav




PRODUCTION DATES:  

Fri, April 5th, 2013 - 7:00pm
Sat, April 6th, 2013 - 2:00 & 7:00pm
Sun, April 7th, 2013 - 2:00pm




MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is a rare treasure in the musical theatre, and is based on the heartwarming movie. Join the Smith family at the 1904 World's Fair, and see how their love and respect for each other is tempered with the genuine humor that can only be generated by such a special family. Memorable musical numbers include The Boy Next Door, A Raving Beauty, The Trolley Song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Whenever I'm with You and A Day in New York. Suddenly there's a blackout. Imagine yourself standing with the family as the lights from the World's Fair fill the stage; you've never seen such a spectacular panorama in your life!



Characters, Cast and Songs: Meet Me in St. Louis

 

 
Esther Smith: (Keeley Adkisson) Esther is a year and three months younger than Rose, attractive and effervescent.  She tends to look up to Rose and clings to her in time of trouble.  She, too, wears the same costume in the first two acts and something very "special" in the last act.
SONGS: "The Boy Next Door"; "The Trolley Song"; "Over The Bannister"; "Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas"; "You are for Loving"
 

John Truitt: (Walker Davis) He is slightly older than Rose a nice strapping fellow, sincere and friendly.  On his first appearance he is somewhat disheveled.  He is dressed for a "special" occasion in the last act and wears the same suit in the first two act.
SONGS: "Over the Bannister"; "Reprise The Boy Next Door"; "You Are for Loving"
 

Mr. Smith: (Brad D. Fowler) He is in his forties, a kind, generous, loving father and a successful business man, to boot.  He wears a business suit throughout, and may change for the last act.
SONGS: "Wasn't it Fun?"; "A Day in New York"
 

Mrs. Smith: (Joy Adkisson) She, too, is in her forties, an attractive woman, with a firm but gentle manner.  She has graciousness and charm, which the years and raising a family have mellowed.  She wears the same costume in the first two acts and may change to something a little dressier in the third act.
SONGS: "You'll Hear a Bell"; "Wasn't it Fun?"; "A Day in New York"
 

Rose Smith: (Whitley Fowler) She is the oldest of the girls, eighteen, and the beauty of the family.  She has a loyal, loving nature--and also a bit of a temper.  She wears the same costume in the first two acts and changes to a very "special" one for the Fair in the final act.
SONGS: "A Raving Beauty"; "A Touch of the Irish"; "Skip to My Lou"; "A Day in New York"
 

Lon Smith: (Hunter Dotson) He is the oldest in the family, nineteen.  Lon is good looking and athletic.  He wears sporty-looking collegiate clothes in Acts One and Two and changes in the last act to a more formal-looking suit.
SONGS: "The Banjo"; "Skip To My Lou"
 

Agnes Smith: (Isabella Bankston) She is about two years younger than Esther and inclined to be a tomboy.  Agnes is independent and forthright, and greatly admired by Tootie.  Her costume and appearance are somewhat mussed upon her first entrance.  She changes in the last act to one of her "best" dresses.
SONGS: "Under the Bamboo Tree"
 

Tootie Smith: (Ansley Potter) Tootie is the youngest in the family, a bright-eyed, serious faced youngster with a slightly macabre sense of humor.  She wears the same costume in the first two acts and one of her "best" dresses for Act Three.
SONGS: "Drunk song"; "Under the Bamboo Tree"
 

Grandpa: (Floyd Walker) He is a spry old gent in his seventies, with a neat white beard and mustache.  The children adore him and never tire of hearing his "tales."  He may wear the same costume throughout the play.
SONGS: "A Day in New York"
 

Katie: (Virginia Church) Katie is ageless; she might be anywhere from forty-five to sixty--you can't tell.  She is good-humored, generous loving--and Irish.  Her brogue is slight but musical.  Through out the play she wears a neat house-dress with a voluminou apron over it.
SONGS: "A Touch of the Irish"; "A Day in New York"
 

Lucille Ballard: (Lindsey Fowler) She is eighteen, a very pretty but decidedly affected girl from the East.  Her manner in front of the boys is arch and coy.  Her clothes are very expensive and the very latest in fashion.  She may change for each act.
SONGS: None
 

Conductor: (Logan Fagin) This part is not listed in the cast of characters, as he makes only a brief appearance at the curtain of Act One.  He wears a streetcar conductor's uniform, with his cap pushed back on his head at a wild angle.
SONGS: None
 

Warren Sheffield: (Jacob Sapp) Rich love-interest of Rose.
SONGS: "A Raving Beauty"; "Skip To My Lou"
 

Eve Finley: (Kiley Huddleston) (southern accent) Strong, frank, women's lib type
SONGS: None
 

Postman: (Sid Yadav) Interacts with Tootie at the beginning of Act 1. A lot of expression.
SONGS: None
 

Clinton A. Badger: (David Samples) Poor dancing comedic role.
SONGS: None
 

Peewee Drummond: (Derrick Keator) Poor dancing comedic role.
SONGS: None
 

Sidney Purvis: (Sid Yadav) Poor dancing comedic role.
SONGS: None
 

Ensemble: (Emily Stephens, Melody McElroy, Mackenzie Boggs) Party guests, carolers, trolley passengers
SONGS: "The Trolley Song"; "The Banjo"; "Meet Me in St Louis"



  



SYNOPSIS  

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is the story of a happy family's life, as they anticipate the wonders of the 1904 World's Fair. The play includes seven of the best loved songs from the film and ten other wonderful numbers, also by Martin and Blane, written specially for the stage.

The Overture segues directly into the Opening Number - Meet Me In St. Louis, where we find ourselves in front of the Smith family home. The principals sing the title song introducing themselves (the Smith family octet): Tootie, the youngest girl; Agnes, her closest sister; Lon, the son ready for college; Mrs. Anna Smith, mother; Katie, the family's Irish maid; Grandpa Prophater; Rose, the eldest daughter; and Esther, the second oldest daughter. We learn of their excitement about the fair, of Esther's crush on The Boy Next Door, and Mrs. Smith's advice to her daughter in You'll Hear a Bell.

Esther attempts to hold the family dinner an hour earlier than usual, in order to give Rose some privacy to receive a long distance phone call from a wealthy suitor, Warren Sheffield, who is vacationing in New York. Mr. Smith insists on dinner at the usual time, and despite Katie's quick pace the plan fails. The whole family overhears Rose's disappointing call. The tone picks up quickly, and we find ourselves at Lon's going away to college party. Warren has returned from New York by now, and he and Rose sing the delightful duet A Raving Beauty. In Warren's refrain, she is "winsome, wise and easy on the eyes", and in Rose's tongue-in-cheek refrain he is "wayward, bad and all kinds of a cad."

With the party in full swing, Lon leads Warren, Rose and the Chorus in the rousing square-dance production number Skip to My Lou. Caught after bedtime watching Lon's party from the stair landing above, Tootie and Agnes are invited down to perform Under the Bamboo Tree as a vaudeville turn for the guests.

When the guests go home, Esther and John are left alone. Although he is shy and a bit awkward, he manages to sing the touching waltz, Over the Bannister, to Esther as he helps her turn down the room gaslights. He then shakes her hand good night. She is disappointed by the handshake as any teenage girl would be, but shrugs it off with a reprise of The Boy Next Door and then The Trolley Song.

The Second Act opens on Halloween night in the kitchen, as Tootie and Agnes prepare to go out trick-or-treating. When Katie is left alone with Esther and Rose, she instructs them in the song and horn-pipe dance A Touch of the Irish on how best to handle romantic situations from a woman's perspective. Tootie and Agnes return unexpectedly, and Tootie mischievously places the blame for their early return on John Truitt. This, of course, complicates matters between John and Esther causing a misunderstanding and then an apology. John sings a reprise of The Girl Next Door.

Mr. Smith is offered a promotion at work, but it will require the family to move to New York City. Everyone is upset by this news and has compelling reasons for not wanting to leave St. Louis. Mr. Smith explains the benefits of the big city in A Day in New York, but Mrs. Smith is the only one willing to make the move. She explains her love for her husband in a reprise of You'll Hear a Bell, and he responds in their duet Wasn't It Fun?

The last big social event before the family leaves St. Louis is the Christmas Ball, a very formal party. Rose goes with Lon, but Esther is left without an escort; John did not get to the tailor in time to pick up his father's tuxedo. Grandpa Prophater saves Esther's evening by wearing his tuxedo and escorting her to the Ball. A prank Esther plans for Lucille, whom Lon admires, backfires on her, and Esther is forced to dance with three less-than-attractive men herself. Everything works out well for the three young couples. John manages to get his tuxedo and unexpectedly arrives at the Ball. Later that evening, he and Esther decide they should wait some time before marrying since they are only "practically of age." They reaffirm their love in the beautiful duet You Are for Loving. Rose and Warren, and Lucille and Lon pair off for the duration of the Ball.

Back in the living room at home, Tootie is upset by the move away from St. Louis. Esther tries to comfort her with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, but it is not until Mr. Smith announces that the move is off that everyone is truly happy again.

The scene and time change to spring, and the chorus sings a reprise of The Trolley Song as everyone prepares to go to the World's Fair. The chorus is interrupted by the Smith family gathering and singing a reprise of Meet Me in St. Louis. There is a blackout. Suddenly lights come up and we are with the Smith family observing the spectacular panorama of the 1904 World's Fair.