STAGE REVIEW : A Tedious Stopover in ‘St. Louis’

“Meet Me In St. Louis” is the kind of musical that gives family values a bad name.

For 2 1/2 hours, a big St. Louis family coos over each other in their big, splendid-looking house, fretting between big, happy production numbers about such pressing issues as whether they should move to New York (the big dramatic conflict); whether their homemade catsup is too sweet or too sour (the big dinner conflict); and when the two eldest daughters (both teen-agers) will wrangle proposals out of their tongue-tied beaus.

The Nederlander Organization’s San Diego Playgoers presentation of “Meet Me In St. Louis” continues its icky-sweet run through Monday at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

This touring show, produced by the Troika Organization, has been criticized for being done non-union, but, despite some opening-night glitches with the theater’s sound system, the production itself is not at fault.

The problem is Hugh Wheeler’s wispy script. Adapted from Vincente Minnelli’s thin 1944 MGM movie, it lacks the one thing the original had going for it--Judy Garland as Esther, one of the Smith sisters. Set in an impossibly idealized 1903-1904, the show was mere background for such Garland songs as “The Boy Next Door,” “Under the Bamboo Tree,” “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Here, Despite director William Wesbrooks’ deft work at keeping the action moving and spirits high, the story is tedious, saccharine sweet and just plain boring.

M. Kathryn Quinlan sings, performs and dances well as Esther--but she’s not Judy Garland. One of Quinlan’s best moments is her look of resignation as she’s whirled around by the worst of partners at a fancy-dress ball.

If you like cute kids, Samantha Hope as Tootie is one of the cutest (she’s best known for her role in the movie “Avalon”). She sings and dances precociously--when she’s not burying “dead” dolls in the family’s back yard. Cassie Angley does well as the older sister, Rose, and Jay Douglas is all clean-cut charm as brother Lon.

Christopher Sieber, an affiliated artist who appears regularly with the Troika team, has great timing, drawing every possible bit of humor from his role as the jock next door whose personal goal is to get from a good-night handshake with Esther to a good-night kiss.

But the ensemble is the highlight--bringing a rich coloration to the harmonies and filling the cavernous Civic Theatre with style.

The Norman Rockwell-style sets by James Bush move cleanly, swiftly and colorfully from the trolley scene, to the house, to the fancy-dress ball. One doesn’t long for the onstage ice-skating rink that was a much-advertised centerpiece of the 1989 Broadway production. The colorful costumes by Dean Brown accentuate the period charm.

For some, nostalgia will be the show’s main appeal--a longing for a simpler time that never really was: One with neither crime nor any problems too complex to be solved by a smile and a song.

All of this played well when the movie came out in 1944. If anything, it looked ahead to the white-bread-and-butter picture of America that was championed in the 1950s.

Indeed, the only thing worth saving in “Meet Me in St. Louis” are some of the classic Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane songs, particularly “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Under the Bamboo Tree.” Someone should get permission to use them in a better show than this.

“MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS”

Based on “The Kensington Stories” by Sally Benson and the MGM picture “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Book by Hugh Wheeler. Director is William Wesbrooks. Sets by James Bush. Costumes by Dean Brown. Lighting by Brian MacDevitt. Sound by George Huckins. Musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements by Thomas N. Whiddon. Wigs and hair by Bernie Ardia. Choreography by Daniel Pelzig. With M. Kathryn Quinlan, Paul Bernier, Karen Errington, Albert Parker, Stephanie Tardiff, Jay Douglas, Christopher Sieber, Robin Lyn Gralnick, Cassie Angley, Don Anderson and Samantha Hope. Tickets are $25-$42.50. Performances are 8 p.m. through Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Monday with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 through Monday. A San Diego Playgoers presentation at the San Diego Civic Theatre, 202 C St., San Diego, 236-6510 or 278-TIXS.