Issue date: 7/11/07 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Steve Berry Meet Me in St. Louis cast members on the set Monday. From left, Shea Maples, Abbye Lakin, Ronnie Weaver, and Brandyn Rust.

A classic Judy Garland musical, which will whisk audience members back to the excitement of the 1904 World's Fair, is being revisited by area performers.

At 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" will be performed in the Edwardsville LeClaire Christian Church Auditorium. A matinee will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Performed by the community theater group 1000 Miles Off Broadway, the "Meet Me in St. Louis" production is based on the 1944 musical starring Judy Garland.

The story focuses on the Smiths, a middle-class family with four daughters and a son living in St. Louis, a year before the 1904 World's Fair.

Sarah Hawkins plays Esther, the second eldest daughter originally played by Judy Garland, who is infatuated with John Truitt, the boy next door played by 17-year-old Ronnie Weaver.

Rose, the eldest daughter, played by Abbye Lakin, also has a beau - the millionaire Warren Shetfield, played by Brandyn Rust.

However, the family soon finds out that Mr. Smith has earned a position at a law firm in New York and they will all move right after Christmas.

The family is devastated. Katie, the family maid played by the president of 1000 Miles Off Broadway, Pam Masching, will lose her job. Rose and Esther will have to leave their romantic interests behind, while Mrs. Smith will have her home uprooted. Not only that, but they will also miss the World's Fair, which the family has been looking forward to for months.

Hawkins said that while she wasn't expecting to get to play the role of Esther, she was glad to get the part.

"Ester is a little ahead of her time," Hawkins said. "She's from a time period where she's supposed to be conservative, but she's really vivacious and goes after the things that she wants."

For instance, in one scene, Ester tells her sister Rose that she thinks she will let John Turnitt kiss her, to which Rose replies in horror that women shouldn't let men kiss them until they are engaged.

Hawkins said her favorite scene to act out is when Rose and Ester first see John Turnitt in his yard.

"We're trying to have a conversation loud enough for him to hear," Hawkins said, but the boy next door is oblivious to the attention.

Hawkins also said she enjoys the scene where she beats John up.

Weaver said his favorite scene is the World's Fair.

"It just looks awesome," Weaver said. "The artist did a really good job painting the scenery, and the lighting is awesome."

Dana Kelting, the director of the production, said the show is a chance for the actors to boost their self-esteem, make new friends and try something new.

"There's a whole bunch of people from all over the community who get to be on stage," Kelting said. "It's a very family-oriented show."

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Once Upon a Toy, The Garden Kingdom and The Bank of Edwardsville's main location on Vandalia Street or at the door for $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.

For more information about the 1000 Miles Off Broadway production of "Meet Me in St. Louis," call Masching at (618) 655-1422 or go to www.1000milesoffbroadway.com.

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