Bette Midler as Dolly — Page 5

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#101

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 12:03pm

My issue with those two songs is that they front load the first act a great deal- two additional solos, and "Love, Look in My Window" occurs just before "Before the Parade Passes By"- and expresses the exact same sentiments.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#102

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 12:30pm

I agree, Kad, but sometimes it's just thrilling to be able to sit back and watch a great star knock one out of the park.

'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

#103

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 12:36pm

I agree, Kad, but sometimes it's just thrilling to be able to sit back and watch a great star knock one out of the park.

It is, but not at the expense of the show. Remember when PROMISES, PROMISES added two songs for Kristin Chenoweth based on this type of logic? HELLO, DOLLY is so perfect as written that I don't think it needs to have more songs, and I don't think we can really argue Dolly is an underwritten role, it's one of the juiciest roles for a theatre actress, musical or not.
I doubt much will come of this, but it's an exciting prospect. I don't mind the idea of Reba's accent any more that I mind a black, Latina or Asian Dolly, I have enough creativity to imagine reasons why Reba ended up there, that's part of the fun of seeing fictional characters, they are not real people so you can make up a story for them. I bet Reba is enough of a good actress to make up her own story about why her Dolly ended up in turn-of-the-century Yonkers.

"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#104

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 12:53pm

Hello, Dolly! is, as ray said, tightly constructed and well-paced. Two 3-4 minute ballads can severely alter the pacing of a show, particularly one on the more farcical side like this one.

They're lovely songs that should be heard more often. But I think they should be heard in other venues.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

#105

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 12:57pm

2-3 minutes of "Love, Look In My Window" is not going to kill the show. I could almost guarantee that song would have returned if LuPone's revival happened. Merman stopped the show with that number, and given it's belty nature, it's right up LuPone's and Midler's alley.

Even if just that song returned, I'd be happy.

#106

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 1:03pm

I agree with ray and Kad- "Love, Look In My Window" is completely superfluous, especially considering it comes just before "Before The Parade Passes By." Considering Herman has been remiss to include it in other productions, I doubt it would ever be incorporated into a revival of the show.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

#107

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 1:47pm

"she stilled ruined Sweeney Todd"

"and I agree with you that Sweeney was not her finest hour (to put it mildly)."

No comment.

Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#108

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/29/13 at 10:54pm

"Love, Look in my Window" by Merman.
Got chills at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BUNKKjdLqA

#109

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 12:12am

Lupone as Dolly? Don't see it at all. The show has less to do with Dolly's singing ability or piercing personality, but more to do with her warmth and humor. Lupone is great, but this sound like major miscasting.

#110

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 1:19am

Zamedy, it gives me chills, too. I especially love the live version from the actual show. It's more powerful than that clip. The audience sounded so grateful to finally hear her belt, it's like this huge release that can be felt from a low quality recording.

I would really love to hear LuPone tear into that song. She would so nail it.

#111

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 1:25am

Do you have a link to the live recording from the show? I couldn't find it.

#112

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 1:36am

Not at the moment. I can try to upload it tomorrow. It's pretty stunning, even the audience reaction gives me chills.

#113

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:18am

La Bette just tweeted:

Bette Midler ?@BetteMidler 5m
WELL!! Now I hear I have been offered "Hello, Dolly"! First I've heard of it. Still I would look great coming down that staircase...

I have to admit, she WOULD look great coming down that staircase!

#114

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 10:56am

Does anyone remember talk--maybe 10 years ago--of Midler for a TV version of "Dolly"? Could have sworn I read that somewhere.

I have long been in the Bernadette-as-Dolly camp. Her look is perfect for the turn-of-the-century setting, costumes.

As for Reba, I think she should star in a revival of "Unsinkable Molly Brown."

And while I'm playing casting director... I've been saying for 15 years that Chenoweth should star opposite Brian Stokes Mitchell in "On the 20th Century."

#115

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 11:10am

If Midler's tweet is to be taken seriously and she really does have interest in potentially doing the show, somebody better get on the phone and make the offer today.

#116

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 11:17am

^ Exactly!

#117

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 12:56pm

Sounds like Midler was putting it out into the universe, make it happen people.

#118

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 1:41pm

Bette is teasing us. She has no interest in doing a big musical 8 times a week for an extended run. Her last Vegas show was, I felt, a disappointment; she was right next door to phoning it in and said (not during the performance) that she was too old to work that hard anymore, and she meant it. The terrific Hollywood Bowl/Actors Fund/Philharmonic idea is as close as we'll get to seeing her Dolly. Let's get Melissa McCarthy together with a great coach and see what she could do with the score.

#119

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:50pm

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/hello-dolly

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9807E2D6123CEE34BC4052DFB4678382679EDE

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009483-hello_dolly

#120

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/31/13 at 3:00am

Jewish or not- Bette Midler only knows how to play one role - and that's Bette Midler

#121

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 5/31/13 at 8:57am

^^^Do you mean as opposed to Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman, Barbra Streisand or most of the other women who have played Dolly in the musical?

#122

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:16pm

why didn't this happen

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#123

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:24pm

"why didn't this happen"

Because Bette is Jewish and Dolly is Irish.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#124

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:29pm

"why didn't this happen"

Because Bette is Jewish and Dolly is Irish.

>>>>>>>>>

Oh, so that was Irish Barbra was doing in the film. Thanks for clarifying.

#125

Bette Midler as Dolly

Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:31pm

why didn't this happen

Did you not read the thread? It's not happening cause Midler isn't interested in carrying a show like this at her age. Good on her for being honest. Why are we still talking about Midler when we have Patti waiting in the wings in the red dress?

Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...

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