Betty Buckley is out again? Question — Page 8

Mr. DeGuzman was delightful as Barnaby.

Analisa Leaming as Irene Molloy was charismatic and charming.

Lewis Stadlen was fine - to me, the production projected an aura of knowing silliness and so his performance fit right in there. I don't know that he was playing Horace Vandergelder so much as he was playing an actor playing Horace Vandergelder.

Betty Buckley took a star turn. She seemingly milked everything out of every moment. From the stage, she acknowledged (by gestures) one man in the audience who was exuberant in his applause and reactions. This not a complaint, but the music seemed to be ahead of her frequently - as she would pause in some of her phrases. I do not think she would have been singing the role differently than on other tour stops- so it must have been a factor of the conductor working with local musicians. .

I actually had never seen a full production of Hello Dolly nor even the full movie. It was so much fun seeing a big brassy no-pretense non-serious musical.

Oh, and the box office and ushers are prepared to deal with potentially unhappy people next week. They are hoping more messages go out to ticket holders advising them Ms. Buckley won't be performing next week here in Denver. They all had tales of when George Hamilton was advertised but did not perform in La Cage - but I have no idea when that was!

Updated On: 3/28/19 at 01:28 PM

I am thinking about driving up to Iowa to see the show this weekend but I'd hate to drive up four and a half hours only to have Betty not go on Saturday night. Seems like maybe a younger Dolly would be more ideal for a touring situation

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^thank you so much for that info! Glad to know in advance before I bought my tickets and hotel and everything. I also guess now that the fan letter I sent to her to the theater in Iowa where she was supposed to be performing this week will end up getting that back RTS since she won't be with the tour when it comes there. Lol.

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She certainly is missing a lot of shows. I get the touring schedule is very strenuous for someone of any age and is more difficult for someone of hers. What a disappointment. I was so looking forward to seeing her. maybe the next dolly that they bring in will be a little bit younger and able to withstand the hardships of touring like this better than Buckley has.

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darreyl102 said: "She certainly is missing a lot of shows. I get the touring schedule is very strenuous for someone of any age and is more difficult for someone of hers. What a disappointment. I was so looking forward to seeing her. maybe the next dolly that they bring in will be a little bit younger and able to withstand the hardships of touring like this better than Buckley has."

I understand Timothy Shew has been going on as Vandergelder? I would be interested to hear if anyone has seen him in it. He is usually wonderful. Also.. the bio section in their site could use a little updating; as some of the cast has already changed.

I’m not buying a ticket until 5 minutes before showtime in Minneapolis. Love Betty, but this is ridiculous. If I were in Iowa, I would be LIVID to not have been notified of a planned absence for an above-the-title star. That is standard procedure and these tour tickets are as spendy as Bway. It’s rather insulting of the producers/road management to not address this as it is done in NYC. It takes a few clicks to send a mass email through Ticketmaster, if you find out closer to the performance date. C’mon!!!

^I'm glad that Jessica is getting to go on and is doing well but the fact of the matter is she shouldn't be going on so much. I understand that Betty is of a certain age but she's contracted to perform and she keeps missing tons of shows. They should have hired an alternate Dolly and have them take turns performing the role in different cities since it's clear that Betty was not up to the task. I must admit I was greatly saddened that Betty pulled out of Iowa as I have been waiting anxiously since the tour dates were announced for the show to come near me and I am a huge fan of Miss Buckley. Is she pulling out of shows because she's too sick to perform? Or are some these absences excused for other reasons? Like vacation or something?

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^that's what I was assuming. And in keeping with that,I suspect they'll probably just buck up her understudy to full-time for the second year the tour. Sad that Buckley doesn't seem too into traveling around the country in what really is a great role. It's extremely disappointing.

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On two-show days, do the other principle cast have stand-ins as well? I’m looking at getting tickets for a Sunday Matinee on August 11th and would love to see Nic Rouleau and Jess LeProtto again.

LizzieCurry said: "Jess LeProtto left last month.”

Noooooooooooooo!

darreyl102 said: "Seems she doesn't have the stamina for the tour, which is totally understandable at the age of 71."



Four of your six posts in this thread have referred to Betty Buckley's age and/or stamina. Earlier, she was out with bronchitis. Recently, on vacation. If there were other absences, you can't assume without some proof that they were a result of her age. Please, enough with the ageist comments.

FWIW, season ticket holders in Des Moines were sent the following email on March 21. I appreciate they let us know, and understand they probably did it as quick as they could when they found out.



Thank you for purchasing tickets to HELLO, DOLLY! As part of a late scheduling change due to a vacation, Betty Buckley (Dolly Gallagher Levi) will not be appearing in the tour from April 2–14. (including the Des Moines performances). Stepping into the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi will be understudies Jessica Sheridan and Beth Kirkpatrick. Jessica is well-known to Des Moines audiences after appearing in the National Tour launch of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY held at the Civic Center November 28–December 5, 2015.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to the Civic Center for this engagement.