Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:12am
Has anyone seen Carolee in Hello, Dolly! ?? Of course like her previous ones she will be great, but wondering if there are anythings she does differently than previous Dolly's, aka Midler, Peters, Buckley, even Murphey. I plan on seeing her when she comes to Buffalo. Also, saddened to hear the news that their run in Toronto and Albany area will no longer be happening. Oh well.....
Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:50am
I saw her three times! I can't compare her to any other Dolly Levis, because I had never seen the stage show before. However, she was absolutely phenomenal. I saw it once because I wanted to see the show. I went back a second and third time because I wanted to see her again (the rest of the cast is also wonderful, don't get me wrong. But I just loved her performance).
Posted: 1/20/20 at 1:36am
angoradebs said: "I saw her three times! I can't compare her to any other Dolly Levis, because I had never seen the stage show before. However, she was absolutely phenomenal. I saw it once because I wanted to see the show. I went back a second and third time because I wanted to see her again (the rest of the cast is also wonderful, don't get me wrong. But I just loved her performance)."
Like you I wasn't too familiar with the show and I thought she was wonderful as was the rest of the cast. She's very funny and her voice is gorgeous. If you go to her Instagram it looks like she's having a blast on this tour and that really shows in her performance.
Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:18pm
Carolee is a lot of fun as Dolly. She works very well with John Bolton, her Horace. She has been allowed to create her own Dolly, so while there are some bits that have played in all the versions (I've seen Midler, Peters, Murphy & Carmello) there are a few that are specific to Carolee's Dolly. The show holds up very well on tour and maintains the magic it had on Broadway. I think you will have a wonderful night in the theatre.
Updated On: 1/20/20 at 12:18 PM
Posted: 1/20/20 at 1:35pm
She's utterly spectacular in the role, and like other posters have noted, her chemistry with John Bolton is first-rate. I loved seeing her in Detroit and I'm planning to go several times in March when the tour settles in Providence for a week.
Posted: 1/20/20 at 2:59pm
Of the three Dolly’s I saw in this revival — Bette once, Betty twice, and Carolee once — while I loved them all, Carolee was my clear favorite. I’m glad I flew to Tucson to see her since all the tour stops after are back east. I’m not versed enough in the craft to fully say why, but to me it has to do with her being slightly younger. There’s a carefree youthfulness whereas with the two B’s I got a sense that Horace is their absolute last chance for love and a weariness of life. Just my own take and I could be way off. (Granted, I’m a huge Carolee fan, Betty Lynn was sick and recovering for much of the SF stop, and with Bette, her star sort of overshadowed the performance.)
And on a related topic I feel John is the weakest of the three Horace’s I saw, with David second (but not by much) and Lewis far out in front.
But regardless, overall I adore this production. As an ensemble the cast is top notch.
Posted: 1/20/20 at 6:28pm
PatrickDC said: "Of the three Dolly’s I saw in this revival — Bette once, Betty twice, and Carolee once — while I loved them all, Carolee was my clear favorite. I’m glad I flew to Tucson to see her since all the tour stops after are back east. I’m not versed enough in the craft to fully say why, but to me it has to do with her being slightly younger. There’s a carefree youthfulness whereas with the two B’s I got a sense that Horace is their absolute last chance for love and a weariness of life. Just my own take and I could be way off. (Granted, I’m a huge Carolee fan,Betty Lynn was sick and recovering for much of the SF stop, and with Bette, her star sort of overshadowed the performance.)
And on a related topic I feel John is the weakest of the three Horace’s I saw, with David second (but not by much) and Lewis far out in front.
But regardless, overall I adore this production. As an ensemble the cast is top notch.
"
Good to know. I saw Bette once, Bernadette twice, Donna once and Betty once. Have tickets to see Carolee 7 times, only because she's my favorite. Very exciting to see how the cast changes and adapts to her version of Dolly
Posted: 1/21/20 at 7:38am
Posted: 1/21/20 at 12:54pm
I saw Bette, Donna and Bernadette in the last revival, and Carol on the road many years ago. But if by chance, "Dolly" returned to New York (I can wish for miracles!) with Carolee, I would go see it for a fifth time. Tied with Beth Leavel, Carolee is my favorite Broadway leading lady, and having seen her many times ("Kiss Me Kate", Reprise "On the 20th Century", "Sister Act", "Scandalous", "Finding Neverland", "Tuck Everlasting", "Hey Look Me Over"
, she absolutely glows on the stage. I had front row rush tickets for "Sister Act", and at one point she did something hysterically funny. I howled in laughter, and she gave me sort of her Mother Superior "grin of approval" indicating that she noticed me reacting in a way she liked. I've heard she has done this for other audience members and is very gracious, kind and funny with fans she encounters. When I saw "Scandalous", I sat next to two rather vicious patrons who, having sipped a bit too much wine at lunch prior to the show and during intermission, thought I was idiotic for enjoying it the way I did. Her performance was so incredible that it diminished the issues with the script, and for "Tuck Everlasting", I was praying she'd get her fourth Tony nomination. I wanted to go to New Haven last November, but all of my friends had seen the revival several times and nobody wanted to venture there. The reviews I have read with her as Dolly have been of the highest praise.
Updated On: 1/21/20 at 12:54 PM
Posted: 1/21/20 at 1:01pm
Mark, I agree with your glowing sentiments about Carolee. Last year she did a cabaret act at the Orinda Theater (east bay, east of San Francisco) and I tried desperately to get out of a work event (our board chair's annual house party that I HAD to attend) to be able to see her as herself and not as a character. I keep hoping she'll work Feinstein's at the Nikko in San Francisco . . . though I know she is a little bit busy until May.
Posted: 2/10/20 at 2:00pm
I had the pleasure of seeing the Carolee Carmello led Hello, Dolly! tour at Artis Naples. This is a first-rate company. I've seen quite a few performances of Dolly over the years, including during its original run (Channing, Rogers, Raye, Grable, Bailey, and Merman); Regional or tours (Palmer, Hines); The recent B'way revival (Murphy), and Betty Buckley in the first national tour of the revival. I thought Carmello was as good as any Dolly I've seen, and perhaps the best singer in the role. She had great chemistry with John Bolton. Strong performances also from Analisa Leaming and Daniel Beeman as Mrs. Malloy and Cornelius Hackl. Congratulations to all involved. I believe the tour is in Atlanta this week.
Posted: 2/26/20 at 10:06pm
Saw Carolee in Dolly matinee today in Philly.
She's wrong for the role in so many ways.
Just too perky and strong. Dolly is menschish and a bit world-beaten at the start of the show. Carolee is as good a dancer as the chorus girls and bellows like Ethel Merman (with wobbly vibrato). No sense of vulnerability or needing to be taken care of. If Vandergelder doesn't come around, this Dolly will beat him into submission.
And she misses a LOT of the comedy. Eating scene was a snooze.
Analisa Leaming is again a force to be reckoned with. My fave Irene. Love her approach and the voice of a mischievous angel. Kate Baldwin was strangely flat, performance-wise.
I miss Nic Rouleau. He was my all time favorite in the role of Cornelius. (tied with Lee Roy Reams - didn't see Reilly) Daniel Beeman is OK but needs to be just a shade quirkier and smitten with meeting a girl.
Sean Burns is way too twee as Barnaby. All time fave was Danny Lockin.
Chelsea Cree Groen doesn't get Minnie Faye at ALL (Georgia Engel my favorite). Nor does Laura Sky Herman as Ermengarde (Marcia Lewis and Mary Jo Catlett). John Bolton is a fine Vandergelder if a bit slick.
OK, so I've seen all the Dollys of this revival.
Ranking:
1. Bernadette - adorable and funny and a pro
2. Bette - Star
3. Donna - nice shadings
4. Betty - too tired, but a star
5. Carolee - WAY off
But nobody was better than Channing.
Liked Bailey but still not the best.
Merman was bored and shuffled through the motions. TRULY making her shopping list while performing.
Revival Vandergelders
1. Lewis Stadlen - perfect and SOOOO funny
2. David Hyde Pierce - don't know how he did it, but it worked in spades
3. John Bolton - also made it work, but broader
4. Victor Garber - curiously muted. Is he OK?
Tour done at end of March. Farewell to some fun evenings!
Posted: 2/27/20 at 12:44pm
I saw her in Philly this past Saturday and will be going again this coming Saturday. I thought she was spectacular in the role. She was, for me, easily the best sung of the Dollys I saw (Bette, Bernadette, Donna) and I thought she nailed the comedy. She didn't have the star power that Bette and Bernadette brought to the role, but I think she made up up for that with a thoroughly convincing portrayal of the role.
John Bolton and Analisa Leaming were also wonderful, as was Jane Brockman as Ernestina. Daniel Beeman and Sean Burns as Cornelius and Barnaby were just ok, perfectly serviceable.
It was nice to see a tour that so well replicated the Broadway production, though it didn't fill the vast Academy of Music stage. It is a tough space for yours as it is really an opera house. I wish Philly tours would play the Forrest more often!
Posted: 2/27/20 at 12:44pm
I also saw it in Philly on Saturday. Maybe it was because they’ve done the show so many times now that they’re just trying to play it up and try new things, but the tour felt slightly off the mark. For me, I think everyone tried to lean into the comedy of the show, witch made it seem like a farce. I don’t remember it being like that when I saw Bernadette.
Posted: 2/27/20 at 12:48pm
Broadwayfanboy44 said: "I also saw it in Philly on Saturday.Maybe it was because they’ve done the show so many times now that they’re just trying to play it up and try new things, but the tour felt slightly off the mark. For me, I think everyone tried to lean into the comedy of the show, witch made it seem like a farce. I don’t remember it being like that when I saw Bernadette."
I agree that it felt a bit more like a farce than it ever did on Broadway. However, that really worked for me and the people I was with. And I never fail to leave that show on a high. It really is joyful.
Posted: 2/27/20 at 1:31pm
I saw the matinee in Philly yesterday and I found Carolee to be spectacular. I found her comedy to be great while not on the same level as Bette when it came to this but she was very good. Her singing was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. It took me a little to warm up to John Bolton in the role but I thought he was very good and the end I truly believed he wanted to marry Dolly.
All in all I thought the show was in great shape and a very nice day at the theater.
Posted: 2/27/20 at 3:29pm
Posted: 2/27/20 at 5:00pm
Skip, I appreciate your post and ranking. I think some actors and directors forget the gravity of the piece. I feel like the monologue before "Before The Parade" has so much depth and pathos to it. Many rush through it or throw it away. Streisand was too young and tossed that whole number away in the film.
Dolly Levi is a grieving woman who is resurrecting herself into society. I always sensed she busied herself to deal with her loss. Of those I've seen I think Bernadette really found the sweet spot. Watching the clip on youtube I feel Pearl Bailey did too. I was transfixed before she sang that song.
I think Buckley maybe went too far in the other direction and she wasn't really well during the tour (lots of respiratory and leg issues.). I don't think she could fully commit but did her best. Midler can definitely do pathos and heartbreak and her monologue was moving but the rest of the show she was Bette. I enjoyed Bette immensely but I found little character work.
I look forward to Carolee.
Posted: 2/27/20 at 6:43pm
I adore Carolee and flew to Tucson expressly to see her in the tour after she took over from Betty. Fourth time seeing this incarnation after Bette once and Betty twice on tour in San Francisco (the first performance she was clearly struggling with a cold and sore throat so I had to go back later in the run after she healed). Loved all three Dolly's from the different things they brought to the role, but Carolee was my overall favorite.
Sean Burns was mentioned earlier. He's adorable, but I loved the understudy Julian DeGuzman. I thought he nailed Barnaby's mix of confusion being on the verge of adulthood and wide-eyed innocence on meeting Minnie Faye. His movement in the the instrumental "map and pointing" scene was fantastic. He's cute -- and he's a local boy from the Bay Area -- and he's one of those guys that will be 70 and look 20.
Posted: 2/27/20 at 8:11pm
I also got to see the matinee yesterday and I thought Carolee was fantastic in the role. She sounded wonderful and I liked the spunk that she brought to Dolly. I had seen John Bolton at the Jerry Herman memorial and really enjoyed his performance, and I was looking forward to seeing him in Philly. He did not disappoint. I think he might be my favorite of the Horraces.
My mom saw the show last week and said her crowd didn't seem very into it, but that wasn't the case for the matinee. The audience was definitely enjoying themselves and I overheard many people talking about the beautiful costumes. The Sunday Clothes parade never fails to give me chills. The show overall is in great shape, although I felt that there were parts where the music/singing seemed a little slower than on Broadway while some of the lines seemed rushed, but that could always just be my memory.
I've luckily been able to see all of the Dollys from this incarnation of the show (minus the two understudies that have stepped in), and I would say my preference order is:
1. Bette
2. Donna
3. Carolee
4. Betty
5. Bernadette
I'm planning to see it again at least once before it leaves town (hopefully twice!). If anyone is interested in meeting up before or after the show, I'd be up for a little Dolly get together. We had a small meet-up before the final Bway show and it was nice to get to meet some people from the boards (even though I was still lurking then 
).
Posted: 3/12/20 at 12:38pm
I made a special trip to Buffalo to see Carolee as Dolly last night. It was definitely worth the 4 hour drive. She sang beautifully and has a warm, bubbly personality, but she also nailed the "Dear Ephraim" pathos. I saw Bette Midler in New York, and Carolee's performance matched hers IMO. The man sitting next to me said Carolee (who he'd never heard of) was a worthy successor to Channing, and I had to agree.
John Bolton as Horace did a nice job with "Penny in My Pocket" but otherwise was kind of a bland Horace. I really liked Daniel Beeman's Cornelius; based on his bio it looks like he hasn't done any NY theater, but I hope he will. Jenny Hickman's Irene made me appreciate how good Kate Baldwin was. The ensemble is terrific.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:06pm
Here is a review from this week
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Review-A-Jubilant-HELLO-DOLLY-at-Sheas-Buffalo-Theatre-20200311
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:11pm
Broadwayfanboy44 said: "I also saw it in Philly on Saturday.Maybe it was because they’ve done the show so many times now that they’re just trying to play it up and try new things, but the tour felt slightly off the mark. For me, I think everyone tried to lean into the comedy of the show, witch made it seem like a farce. I don’t remember it being like that when I saw Bernadette."
HELLO, DOLLY! is based on Thornton Wilder's THE MATCHMAKER which IS a farce.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:47pm
Barring cancellation, I'm seeing Carolee on Saturday and I cannot wait.
Posted: 3/12/20 at 1:49pm
amaklo said: "I made a special trip to Buffalo to see Carolee as Dolly last night. It was definitely worth the 4 hour drive. She sang beautifully and has a warm, bubbly personality, but she also nailed the "Dear Ephraim" pathos. I saw Bette Midler in New York, and Carolee's performance matched hers IMO. The man sitting next to me said Carolee (who he'd never heard of) was a worthy successor to Channing, and I had to agree.
John Bolton as Horace did a nice job with "Penny in My Pocket" but otherwise was kind of a bland Horace. I really liked Daniel Beeman's Cornelius; based on his bio it looks like he hasn't done any NY theater, but I hope he will. Jenny Hickman's Irene made me appreciate how good Kate Baldwin was. The ensemble is terrific.
"
It's a shame you missed Analisa Leaming as Irene. She was exquisite.
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