David Hyde Pierce to Join Bette Midler in HELLO DOLLY
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:06pm
I love David Hyde Pierce so much! What an amazing choice. I have to see this now.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:11pm
I was really hoping against hope they'd get JK Simmons. Pierce will be fine, I'm sure, and he's delivered many performances I quite liked- but there's nothing gruff or blue collar about him, which Horace needs. Pierce always comes off as very erudite.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:12pm
He is wonderful. He completely won me over in CURTAINS. He gets musical theatre and I can already see him creating a wonderful chemistry with Midler. A perfect pairing.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:14pm
Where can I petition Kate Bladwin for Irene?
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:18pm
Must be a new part - Dolly's feigele brother. Is there no older Jerry Orbach, John Raitt, someone with some weight (literally and dramatically) that could do that role so that when we see it, we won't expect Maris to make an ill-timed visit or phone call. I like him, I really do, but please, please.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:19pm
I wouldn't call Horace Vandergelder "blue collar" (as someone did above) but more "merchant class" - I've seen it played different ways, from Walter Matthau's usual gruff blustery persona (which I thought worked great in the movie) to suave and debonair (but as intolerant of women as was typical in the time period) - Cab Calloway, and later Billy Daniels...actually, the more I think about it, Hyde Pierce may be wonderful in the role...reminds me of my own grandfather who was wiry and stern, but with a twinkle in his eye, who ran a little grocery/mercantile operation in Clarksburg, West Virginia...
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:24pm
I think David Hyde Pierce is great casting, I only wish it was going into the St. James (but maybe it means Something Rotten! isn't closing as early as people think!)
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:37pm
I, too, think Pierce will do a fine job. Horace is not, as already pointed out, "blue collar." He's a textbook petite bourgeoisie. And most important, he's funny. Simmons would (I think) be far too butch and lower class for the role (and he's never particularly funny, either). If the audience thinks that he might actually hit (and physically hurt) Cornelius, Barnaby, Ambrose, or Ermengarde, the comedy flies out the window.
It is a bit odd that the actor playing Horace is 13 years younger than the actor playing Dolly, but I'm sure hair and make-up will solve that.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:37pm
I think this will be good, because it will provide a chance for David to play against his typical type. From what I've seen, he isn't really the type of actor who just keeps trying to play the same part over and over, so I think we may see a side of him that we really haven't before and that it'll be great.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:43pm
Updated On: 5/17/16 at 03:43 PM
Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:45pm
IdinaBellFoster said: "Where can I petition Kate Bladwin for Irene?"
(You don't have to...)
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:01pm
The winking smile emoticon in bjh2114's comment makes me very happy about the possibility of Kate Baldwin for Irene Malloy!!
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:03pm
Can some clever person show the 2 of them standing next to each other to determine physical compatability---Thanks--just curious to see.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:05pm
Updated On: 5/17/16 at 04:05 PM
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:06pm
Isn't She Great! One of the gayest movies ever made.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:09pm
Oh, you said you want them standing. 
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:09pm
It's a safe choice, also a solid one.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:10pm
Pierce is a wonderful performer, but I agree that his physical slightness is going to seem odd next to larger-than-life Bette and larger-than-life Dolly. I wanted them to be more equally matched. She'll look like she's molesting Barney Fife.
Still, those two names together on a marquee are going to sell a lot of tickets.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:13pm
pupscotch said: "I think David Hyde Pierce is great casting, I only wish it was going into the St. James (but maybe it means Something Rotten! isn't closing as early as people think!)
"
Maybe it is closing and hello dolly can't take the st. James because it will be undergoing renovations in preparation of frozen.
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:18pm
best12bars said: Pierce is a wonderful performer, but I agree that his physical slightness is going to seem odd next to larger-than-life Bette and larger-than-life Dolly. I wanted them to be more equally matched. She'll look like she's molesting Barney Fife.
Pierce's FRASIER co-star Kelsey Grammer would have been the better choice. Midler is going to devour poor Pierce. He's so slight and so effete.
Oh, am I allowed to say that or will my post get deleted? You know, this being the new and improved politically correct hyper-sensitive BWW and all....
Updated On: 5/17/16 at 04:18 PM
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:27pm
Tickets for this were already believed to be tough to get. Now with DHP attached, it'll be even more difficult. But I still want to see it!!
Posted: 5/17/16 at 4:28pm
Great choice! And will add to Bette's already large draw. So far, So good.
Kate Baldwin is perfection, but I think they will go a tad younger.
I could see Michael Urie as Cornelius.
