HELLO, DOLLY! Previews- Page 23

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 3:32am

From what I read this Dolly seems to be turning into one big audience circus--how do the performers compete?

The more people read about the SOs, cheering, whooping etc etc it's ingrained before the show starts that this a vocal free for all and the louder they scream the more attention the audience member will receive-'Bette will always remember the night that I was there' sort of thing.

Makes me NOT want to be there as this cranky old fart won't tolerate such circus/stadium behaviour.

I will be happy to wait for the CD hopefully the DVD where my volume control can control just that.

Those in rapture of this 'once in a lifetime experience' please continue to enjoy.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 4:24am

SweetLips said: "From what I read this Dolly seems to be turning into one big audience circus--how do the performers compete?

The more people read about the SOs, cheering, whooping etc etc it's ingrained before the show starts that this a vocal free for all and the louder they scream the more attention the audience member will receive-'Bette will always remember the night that I was there' sort of thing.

Makes me NOT want to be there as this cranky old fart won't tolerate such circus/stadium behaviour.

I will be happy to wait for the CD hopefully the DVD where my volume control can control just that.

Those in rapture of this 'once in a lifetime experience' please continue to enjoy."

A predisposition to not being swept away seems just as pre-programmed as a desire to be swept away and, if that is the case, why not choose the latter?!

[BentleyB]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 7:05am

I was there Saturday night. It was not a circus.  There was a boisterous crowd at appropriate times showing the love to this show and the stars that they richly deserve. All 8 in our party smiled and grinned from the overture to the final curtain call.  It is an amazing production and worth every penny we spent on it. I bought tickets the day they went on sale, but would pay more to see it again. It is musical theater at its best. It will win numerous rewards. 

[Fergalicious]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 8:31am

SweetLips said: "From what I read this Dolly seems to be turning into one big audience circus--how do the performers compete?

The more people read about the SOs, cheering, whooping etc etc it's ingrained before the show starts that this a vocal free for all and the louder they scream the more attention the audience member will receive-'Bette will always remember the night that I was there' sort of thing.

Makes me NOT want to be there as this cranky old fart won't tolerate such circus/stadium behaviour.

I will be happy to wait for the CD hopefully the DVD where my volume control can control just that.

Those in rapture of this 'once in a lifetime experience' please continue to enjoy.

 

My, my, my...aren't you a pocketful of sunshine, puppy dogs and rainbows. 

Old fart is right.

 

 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 9:00am

It's NOT a circus. The audience is engaged and supportive which provides a very positive and rather special atmosphere. I greatly look forward to my next visit. 

And BTW, for the person who suggested everyone show up five minutes before curtain to curtail the crowds. DON'T. It takes a good 10 minutes or longer just for the staff just to process everyone through. Plus why should you just have to sit down as the curtain rises? Why shouldn't you be able to read your program, go the bathroom, by a souvenir, or grab something to drink? (Water is $5 in a refillable cup). It's your show, enjoy it!

[TNick926]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 9:04am

I agree, Sweet Lips, that if the actual experience was like a couple of folk have described here, I would be irritated too. HOWEVER, I was there last Thursday night and it was just as most have described above - joyous rapturous applause when Bette first appears. But then she gets to work as Dolly, and the audience is completely immersed in the good hearted grace of Thornton Wilder's story (adapted by Michael Stewart terrifically), Jerry Herman's boisterous exuberant score, and a sublime production from top to bottom. 

Bette nearly tripped coming out of the feed store during beginning of Put On Your Sunday Clothes the night I was there, but quickly recovered with a "Hey! We're live!" to the audience. We roared with approval.

pure delight when drop rose to reveal the fabled Harmonia Gardens set, sustained applause when Bette enters in that red dress, and the title number is just a wow, wow, wow!

Bucolic gorgeous costumes and setting for final wedding scene bows was icing on the cake! There was nothing at all during the entire night that was inappropriate - no screaming out Bette's name, no flash of cell phone photos, no audience drama. Just rapturous enjoyment of musical theater done to perfection! :)

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 9:54am

Each time I've seen this new production has been an evening performance and no children were in the audience. Has anyone noticed kids at matinees? If so, did you notice them dancing during intermission? It's something I've witnessed many times during previous revivals and I think it's adorable.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 9:54am

The original did not receive five standing ovations. That, dollypop, is an alternative fact, so stop spreading false information. I saw the original three time, Pearl Bailey once and  Mary Martin on tour and none received standing ovations during the show and only once did the audience jump to its feet when the star emerged at the curtain call. Today, a standing ovation is totally irrelevant to what has happened on stage. Good, bad, mediocre some silly person jumps to her feet to be spotted and acknowledged by some actor on stage, and then, of course, all the lemmings in the audience follow suit.

Ahhh, I miss the days when it really was thrilling to be a part of one and it actually meant something.

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 11:00am

Perfectly said, JayG 2!

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 2:44pm

WOW TNick926 thanks for that wonderful report. Would love to have been sitting next to you so we could have shared that perfect experience together......x

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 8:40pm

Another Charles Lowe story:

So I was seeing a preview performance of RAGTIME at the now demolished Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles back in the 90s. Carol Channing, Charles Lowe, and another couple they were with, take the seats right in front of us. 

Several minutes before the show started, Charles somehow lost/dropped his glasses. Well, Carol was on all fours scouring the floor for them before the show started. I felt a little bad 'cause she was dressed all in white.

[sppunk]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 9:35pm

SweetLips said: "From what I read this Dolly seems to be turning into one big audience circus--how do the performers compete?

The more people read about the SOs, cheering, whooping etc etc it's ingrained before the show starts that this a vocal free for all and the louder they scream the more attention the audience member will receive-'Bette will always remember the night that I was there' sort of thing.

Makes me NOT want to be there as this cranky old fart won't tolerate such circus/stadium behaviour.

I will be happy to wait for the CD hopefully the DVD where my volume control can control just that.

Those in rapture of this 'once in a lifetime experience' please continue to enjoy.

 

"

Saturday evening I wouldn't call it a circus by any stretch. There was lots of laughing and clapping but no singing along, no yelling, no rudeness. It is a spectacle and people were in awe from overture to leaving.

Hell it was more civil than the shrieking young girls at DEH earlier Saturday.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/4/17 at 11:53pm

SweetLips said: "From what I read this Dolly seems to be turning into one big audience circus--how do the performers compete?

The more people read about the SOs, cheering, whooping etc etc it's ingrained before the show starts that this a vocal free for all and the louder they scream the more attention the audience member will receive-'Bette will always remember the night that I was there' sort of thing.

Makes me NOT want to be there as this cranky old fart won't tolerate such circus/stadium behaviour.

I will be happy to wait for the CD hopefully the DVD where my volume control can control just that.

Those in rapture of this 'once in a lifetime experience' please continue to enjoy.

 

"

Actually none of that is what is happening at all. But go ahead and stay home.  

[Fergalicious]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 12:07am

DAME said:
Actually none of that is what is happening at all. But go ahead and stay home.  

Yaaaaaassss Miss Thing...read these miserable biotches who can't stand audiences enjoying themselves!!!! Werq hunny!!!!

 

 

[JayG 2]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 12:31am

I'm confused, Ferfalicious... how is what I posted "sour grapes"? Do you even know the meaning of sour grapes?



 

 

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 1:11am

As I will never get to see this Hello Dolly I am only responding to what I have read in this thread---did those who were 'offended' think I was making it all up???  Silly possums.

I am pleased that those who defended the audience behaviour the night they attended were able to enjoy the show without the above mentioned 'disturbances'.

So jealous of you all.

PS--DAME--Don't think you should have put your 2 bits worth in there as you can't possibly have attended every performance so far to be 100% accurate.

Updated On: 4/5/17 at 01:11 AM

[DAME]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 12:02pm

I only need to have gone once to know... and I have gone twice .  I am really sorry you won't be able to see it .  It is really something special.  But hopefully she tours the world with it and it comes to your neck of the woods.  Cheers.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/5/17 at 12:11pm

SweetLips said: "
PS--DAME--Don't think you should have put your 2 bits worth in there as you can't possibly have attended every performance so far to be 100% accurate."

You put in your own two cents without having seen any of the performances. And I have not seen anything in this thread indicating generally rowdy audiences.

The audience the night I attended was very appreciative and nothing even remotely approaching a circus. Generous applause for Bette at her big moments and a standing O for the title song- well earned, it should be mentioned. No yelling, shrieking, carrying on. Just a thoroughly engaged and appreciative crowd.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 1:35am

Saw the show again tonight, and it's even more delightful than it was at the first preview. Bette seems more comfortable and her vocals are more confident and stylized. 

Again Gavin Creel practically steals the show, he is that charming and enjoyable in the role. He knows how to play to the entire house, which is something that I look for when sitting in a mezzanine or balcony. Also, I enjoyed Taylor Trensch more this time. 

I don't think there's one bad thing that can be said about this production. It's joy from start to finish. There was only one mid-show standing ovation tonight; the end of the title number. I remained seated, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed the number any less than those standing. 

I was surprised to see that they cut Bette's almost endless solo bows at the end of the curtain call. Was that special to only the first preview? 

Updated On: 4/6/17 at 01:35 AM

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 8:43am

Saw it last night- second row orchestra center- and LOVED it. Would love to see it again- pure joy from start to finish.

[TNick926]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 9:23am

I'd say the "endless" solo bows by Bette were only something that happened in that final invited dress and first preview. The night I saw the show (Thur Mar 30) after her sensational final bow was followed by her pulling Gavin Creel's understudy (who played Cornelius that night) forward for an extra bow (sweet and classy!). Then she rejoined her arm with David Hyde Pierce and they stared out at us as the centerpiece in a beautific bucolic tableau, ensemble beaming, Hudson River glimmering in the background as the final curtain came down...I thought it was perfect! :)

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 9:53am

"I was surprised to see that they cut Bette's almost endless solo bows at the end of the curtain call. Was that special to only the first preview?"

Yes, I loved her endless solo bows at the first preview, but this did not happen when I saw it a second time on March 25. Looks like that has been permanently removed from the curtain call.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 10:16am

That's too bad! The audience really ate it up at the first preview. 

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 10:44am

They had a long solo bow at the end of the second preview as well. Probably not as long as the first because the show ran 40 minutes late due to the emergency in the audience.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 4/6/17 at 11:19am

Though we might think taking multiple solo bows is rewarding the actor, its also exhausting for them. I applaud Bette Midler for wanting to keep this HELLO DOLLY and not the Bette Midler show.