HELLO, DOLLY! Previews — Page 28

You talk about the productions you've seen but don't mention how effective they were. I mean DOLLY without a train or staircase is lacking.

poisonivy2 said: "I don't think Hello Dolly! is strong enough of a musical to survive without an extremely charismatic Dolly Levi. The storyline and jokes were dated even in 1964. Therefore I don't mind that Bette Midler is doing the Divine Miss M schtick. I mean it's a very enjoyable musical but I don't think it's in the top tier of American musicals.

I agree with this completely. Before I saw the show this past Wednesday, I was only moderately familiar with HELLO, DOLLY! Other than the title song, my main exposure to it was from the movie WALL-E. My first impression was that I couldn't imagine seeing the show with anyone but a megastar like Bette Midler. Without her, this revival doesn't seem overly necessary, in my opinion. Also, a major part of why I enjoyed it so much was the contagious enthusiasm of the audience. I thought the rest of the cast was excellent, but they're not working with material that I consider on the same level as my favorite classic musicals. Having said that, I think the title number is exceptional, and I would pay to see it again. The dancing is also superb. On the whole, the show is so joyous that it provides a real antidote to the cynicism of the day, and that boundless exuberance just might be its greatest strength, in addition to Ms. Midler's performance.

Updated On: 4/14/17 at 09:35 PM

I attended the show tonight! It's perfect! The set, costumes, the whole cast is fantastic and Bette Midler is perfection!! She had a couch attack right before Before the parade. She had to stop. Gavin Creel entered with a glass of water. She add libbed, then she fell into the ground to the delight of the audience. Then she struggled finding the key of the song. She kept add libbing. The audience were roaring like hell and ahe told us to shut up! Hillarious!! The she sang the hell out of the song!

Anylne remebers the staging? I found it strange tha t th whole cast was already on stage singing parade instead of entering in groups like the original staging...

Stage Door Sally said: "Dolly does not have to played by a "megastar" to be successful as a musical



My point was not that Dolly had to be played by a megastar for the show to be successful, it was that I personally would have no desire to see it again unless she was. I understand that HELLO, DOLLY! has many longtime diehard fans, but I'm not one of them. I was introduced to most of it for the first time just this week, and my first impression was that it was a lovely show, but probably not one I would revisit again and again.

Best examples of classic musical comedies that IMO are superior to Dolly: Guys and Dolls, She Loves Me, On the Town, Kiss Me Kate, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady ...

Stage Door Sally said: "I've also seen lackluster Dollys, notably one at the Gateway Playhouse, the whole production was like watching paint dry and Dolly - Mimi Hines was clearly struggling. So it depends on the cast."

I saw Mimi Hines in a tour that featured the original sets and costumes. Phil Ford was her Vandergelder. Although I'm a fan of the show, that was the worst production of Hello, Dolly! I've ever seen. Ms. Hines "struggled" with the lines and Mr. Ford was even worse. However, (and I do not remember his name) that production's Barnaby Tucker was the best I've seen. He was a standout in an otherwise dull show.

On the question of Dolly performed in the round, I saw a very good production (back in the 70s) in the round starring Betsy Palmer. In place of on-stage stairs, she made her entrance down one of the aisles of the theatre. Surprisingly, Sunday Clothes worked fine without the train.

Ragtime Ray, I just read Mimi's take on her performance in Dolly on Richard Skipper's blog. I had no idea she was part of an international tour of the show. http://www.callondolly.com/mimi-hines/

At the end of the post, Mimi describes how she went on sick opening night at the Gateway Playhouse and got a bad review, but subsequently got raves. Not from me... and not from you.... Well, she has her dreams.

Some critics were there today. Definitely LA Times and Variety.

Stage Door Sally said: "Ragtime Ray, I just read Mimi's take on her performance in Dolly on Richard Skipper's blog. I had no idea she was part of an international tour of the show. http://www.callondolly.com/mimi-hines/

At the end of the post, Mimi describes how she went on sick opening night at the Gateway Playhouse and got a bad review, but subsequently got raves. Not from me... and not from you.... Well, she has her dreamI





I read Mimi's account and beg to differ. She missed the 1st performance. The gal who normally played Ernestina went on for her. She was rather lackluster. As the producer is a former student of mine, he knew about my obsession with the show and asked how long it would take me to go on. I was willing to do it right then and there. When Mimi learned of this she got out of bed for the next performance. Possibly the press wasn't invited until the 2nd or 3rd show.

Updated On: 4/16/17 at 06:50 PM

I have only seen Midler perform a few times, and never in the "Divine" persona, nor have I seen any other production of Dolly. But when I saw this production about 10 days ago it seemed to me that Midler was very much playing the Dolly character throughout. There weren't any flubs in the performance I saw, and I don't think there were any adlibs. Midler created a plausible character, and showed some fine comic chops. She play-acted at being worn out a few times, but she did so as Dolly, and Midler herself most definitely was not worn out, as she continued to perform energetically for the remainder of the show. She seemed thoroughly professional and dedicated to performing the show as written.

Saw Jane Morgan at the Shady Grove Music Fair. Whether she copied Channing or not, she was not much of an actor, and certainly not a comedienne. a "Dolly" without a Dolly who's reason to see the show just doesn't work. People complaining that Bette is too much Bette in the role -- or some version of that critique -- seem to forget the very reason she is ideal: she's bigger than life, and capable of giving a performance that's a centerpiece. If you don't have that synergy -- that alchemy -- of actor and role, why do "Dolly?" It has nothing to do with the charms of the piece, but everything to do with a musical comedy built around a star.

"

There are people complaining? Probably sourpusses that can't get a ticket.

Pretty much. The complaints about Bette doing Bette and not Dolly mostly seem to come from folks who haven't seen it and are reacting to reports from those that have. Those who have seen her usually say she is playing Dolly, as well as delivering the "Divine " persona. I mean, it doesn't have to be either or. If you watch a Bette Davis movie, for example, Davis is always Davis, but also Regina Giddens, Baby Jane, Queen Elizabeth, etc.