'Hello, Trolley!'
Last Edit: WaymanWong 04:19 pm EST 11/22/24
Posted by: WaymanWong 04:18 pm EST 11/22/24
In reply to: Clang Clang Went the Trolley! - sc2 08:10 am EST 11/22/24

I've always loved this 1944 MGM classic, especially Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane's classic songs. Sondheim once cited ''The Trolley Song'' as one of the tunes he'd wished he'd written.

In 1989, the Broadway version debuted, and Howard Kissel of the N.Y. Daily News gave it a rave. As his copy editor, I put the headline on top of it: 'Hello, Trolley!'

''Meet Me in St. Louis'' got 4 Tony nominations, including Best Musical. But it got its share of pans, and I once wrote to Theater Week magazine, defending the show.

Imagine my surprise to get the following letter at my home one day:

''Dear Mr. Wong, I took your address out of the NYC phone directory, so if there is more than one Wayman Wong, I'm in trouble.

''If, however, you are the gentleman who wrote that gratifying letter to Theater Week about ''Meet Me in St. Louis,'' then I really must thank you personally for the things you said.

''I agree with you that we got a bad shake from the magazine, and most especially from Frank Rich at the Times, but there were many other critiques that I treasure, notably Rex Reed in the New York Observer.

''And I very definitely treasure your letter, too. How very thoughtful of you to have taken the time to write it. It encouraged me greatly. ...

''With grateful thoughts, Hugh Martin''
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