Review: Stages St. Louis Close Their Season with STATE FAIR

State Fair was the only musical that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote specifically for Hollywood and two versions were filmed, one in 1945 and the other in 1962. The one that's probably most familiar to audiences today is the rather forgettable 1962 version, which features Pat Boone serenading a pig. Hammerstein's son, James, revived the musical in 1995, plucking tunes from Me and Juliet, Pipe Dream and Allegro! to round out the score. While the results are certainly a mixed bag musically, the latest presentation by Stages St. Louis is splendidly mounted, and provides a lively and engaging look back at a simpler time in our history.

The basic story follows the Frake family as they attend the Iowa state fair. Abel Frake, the father, hopes to snag a blue ribbon for his prize boar Blue Boy, while his wife, Melissa Frake, dreams of winning prizes for her homemade pickles, as well as her special mincemeat concoction. Their children, Margy and Wayne, are both on the lookout for romantic diversions, and it's a guaranteed certainty that they'll both meet up with someone special.

Christopher Vettel and Kari Ely are a delight to watch as Abel and Melissa Frake. Vettel nicely mines the humor in the book and lyrics, and he and Ely play well off one another. Preston Ellis is fine as their son, Wayne, and Julie Hanson is cute and perky in the role of Margy. Whit Reichert is good in the comic role of Judge Heppenstahl, and he milks his intoxicated antics for their maximum laugh potential. Jim Newman delivers a nice tap routine as reporter Pat Gilbert, while Hollie Howard provides a spark with her work as big band chanteuse Emily Arden.

Standouts among a large and talented supporting cast include: Taylor Pietz, Lisa Ramey, Zoe Vonder Haar, John Flack, Mike Dowdy, Shaun Sheley, and Abigail Isom.

Michael Hamilton directs the show with considerable flair, while maintaining a fairly brisk pace and a keen eye on the show's comedic aspects. He's aided by the spirited choreography of Dana Lewis, which touches on several styles successfully over the course of the evening. James Wolk has produced a colorful set design that evokes just the right atmosphere, while Lou Bird has outfitted the cast with period perfect costumes. Matthew McCarthy has put together a solid lighting scheme, and Stuart Elmore's orchestral realizations blend well with Lisa Campbell Albert's sharp music direction.

Highlights include a hilarious ode to swine "More than Just a Friend", which is comically sung in the manner of a barbershop quartet, the rousing title tune "Our State Fair", and the venerable classic "It Might as Well Be Spring", which features a memorable vocal performance by Julie Hanson. The book by Tom Briggs and Louis Mattioli also delivers just enough humor to carry the night. This, in combination with the enthusiastic performances of the leads, easily compensates for any musical shortcomings present in the score itself.

This family-friendly and entertaining production of State Fair by Stages St. Louis is a lovely close to a terrific season.

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