HELLO, DOLLY! Reviews- Page 6

[BroadwayLover4]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 8:52am

Seeing it on Saturday!!!! I CAN NOT WAIT. These reviews are spectacular.

[bdn223]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:07am

Lets just hope these reviews can sustain the production past Ms Midler's contract.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:09am

As Teachout even notes in his opening statements, it doesn't matter what the critics say- especially for a critic with little influence, like him. He clearly decided to be the lone voice of major dissent to garner more attention over the wave of positive notices.

[Back Row]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:11am

djoko84 said: "Public User said: "Did anyone really expect a fair review from a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch?  He is pouring millions into bolstering our very own Agent Orange, and Bette is one of his most vociferous critics.  Mystery solved.

 

"

This is one of the dumbest statements on here. There's no "conspiracy." The NY Post is owned by the Murdochs and they it was absolutely glowing towards her:

http://nypost.com/2017/04/20/hello-dolly-proves-bette-midlers-genius/

 

Perhaps not Murdoch driven, but I think Public User might be on to something. Teachout has famously allowed his own arch conservative political views to find their way into his own reviews and commentary, including his ridiculous criticism of President Obama coming to New York on the taxpayer's dime to see a Broadway show. David Cote has called him out on his bias more than once, including here:

 

David Cote versus Terry Teachout

 

I had forgotten that Bette Midler has been one of Trump's loudest critics, which could explain why Teachout went after the show with the zeal of a YouTube commenter. Of course, my feeling about that zeal is that he simply enjoys inflicting that kind of abuse, like a parent who smiles as he beats the crap out of his child and insists that it is nothing more than discipline.  It seems that when he has an agenda (political or otherwise), the WSJ review is posted early. (I'm pretty sure his reviews of Wildhorn shows have always been posted early.) That's just part of the pathology of Terry Teachout.

 

 

Updated On: 4/22/17 at 10:11 AM

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:19am

bdn223 said: "Lets just hope these reviews can sustain the production past Ms Midler's contract.

 

"

I'm sure there is a long line of women just waiting to play Dolly.  This show can run for years.

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:23am

What does it take to get some opening night pictures (red carpet, bows and party) up on this board?!

[bdn223]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:27am

BuddyStarr said: "bdn223 said: "Lets just hope these reviews can sustain the production past Ms Midler's contract.

 

"

I'm sure there is a long line of women just waiting to play Dolly.  This show can run for years.

 

"

I am more so hoping the reviews for the production itself are positive enough that the Grand Dames of Broadway *cough*Lupone*Cough* will overcome their pride of only originating roles so that they can be a replacement Dolly. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:29am

"The only ones who need to lighten up are the ones who were starting to plummet into a meltdown over one controversial review.   You knew the rest would be super, just as we all knew when Bette announced her casting as Dolly that she was the shoo-in for the Tony, as would the production be.  Bette's involvement was going to secure this production with the brightest and best of Broadway.  As I said, there was no need to worry, folks. It got the reviews we all knew it would."

Exactly, this was a lock for great reviews. A beloved musical with a star who was born to play the role. Add David Hyde Pierce in the mix and I really don't get the concern.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:44am

Who was plummeting?  

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:59am

>I'm not expecting much from Brantley unless his occasional diva worship gives into the charms of Midler. Reviewing the last Channing revival, he was very smug and condescending about the show itself and damned the actual production with faint praise. I'd love to be surprised.<

Vincent Canby reviewed that production. Brantley didn't become the chief critic until 1996.

Not to mention, the 90s revival was a TERRIBLE production and Channing did not come off well at all.  From that Teachout review, it sounds as though he must not have seen it and probably doesn't even care for the show in the first place.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:11am

cb2addict2 posted in this thread last night that Queen Latifah would be replacing Bette. They've now deleted it. Interesting.

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 11:11 AM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:16am

LesWickedly said: "http://www.didhelikeit.com/shows/hello-dolly-review.html

Did He Like It is updated. So annoying that WSJ is included in the final consensus."

This is why I miss StageGrade.com. But at least BroadwayWorld has a really good reviews section.

 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:17am

I hope Queen Latifah takes over for Bette, she'd be incredible.

[bdn223]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:31am

somethingwicked said: "

cb2addict2 posted in this thread last night that Queen Latifah would be replacing Bette. They've now deleted it. Interesting.

"

It is likely because the final lines of Matt Windman's review for AmNY review are:

"Beginning in June, Donna Murphy (“Wonderful Town&rdquo will play Dolly once a week, and I’m willing to bet that she will be fabulous. And if the revival keeps going after Midler’s contract expires, can you imagine who else could play Dolly? From Queen Latifah to Patti LuPone, the possibilities are tantalizing."

[Kad]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:35am

Was there not discussion about a Latifah-led revival a while ago?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:43am

Yes, Latifah was Jerry Herman's first choice for a revival for years (he's said as much publicly.) She expressed hesitancy about eight shows a week, much like Bette did when she was approached in the past.

She's a series regular on a TV show for FOX so I'm not quite sure how available she is, but she would certainly be stellar in the role.

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 11:43 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:44am

Matthew Murray - I like him as a person, but he's an odd "reviewer" - and he's not paid to review anything, just like people on Broadway World aren't paid to review - they're just people who want free tickets and have a site to post their thoughts.

I've seen you try to make this argument multiple times, both here and on ATC -- is "he's not paid, therefore he's not a 'real' critic" really the best you can do? 

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 11:44 AM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:46am

Kad said: "Was there not discussion about a Latifah-led revival a while ago."

I believe that Queen Latifah, along with Kristin Chenoweth were the top choices to play Dolly for this very revival before Bette Midler was chosen. I know that there was a proposed revival with Jack O'Brian to direct and Patti LuPone to star as Dolly, but Jerry Herman rejected it because it was going to differ wildly from the original production.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:19pm

TOWLEROAD

Bette Midler Is Back on Broadway in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and You Probably Can’t Handle It: REVIEW

http://www.towleroad.com/2017/04/bette-midler-hello-dolly/

 



 

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 12:19 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:33pm

A treasured star is right back where she belongs



Bette Midler returns to Broadway in her first musical role in 50 years, headlining opposite David Hyde Pierce in a sumptuous revival of the classic Jerry Herman musical.

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 12:33 PM

[Valentina3]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:39pm

Robbie2 - would you hate me for suggesting starting another thread (or even a BWW article) with ALL production pics? These are beautiful and I wish I could see them all together haha. :)

[Will3700]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:42pm

I am sure this might have been asked already but does anyone know the length of Bette Midler's contract for Hello Dolly? I have tickets for Sep 22 that I purchased when I was in New York in Jan.  thanks 

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:45pm

She is scheduled to be there until January 2018.

[MizMamie]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:46pm

Will3700 said: "I am sure this might have been asked already but does anyone know the length of Bette Midler's contract for Hello Dolly? I have tickets for Sep 22 that I purchased when I was in New York in Jan.  thanks"

From Telecharge: *On Tuesdays** beginning June 13, 2017, the role of Dolly Levi will be played by Donna Murphy. Donna Murphy will also perform the role of Dolly Levi on June 27 - July 2, July 5 - 9, Sunday evening - July 30, September 6 - 10, Sunday evening - October 15, Monday evening - October 30, November 1 - 5, Friday - November 24 @ 2pm,  and Sunday evening - January 7.

** Bette Midler will perform the role of Dolly Levi on Tuesday - November 21.

 

[RussT2]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:49pm

My boyfriend and I are seeing the show this Saturday night too! I've been waiting patiently since we bought the tickets that crazy Saturday morning last September when we all broke the one day ticket sales record. Does anyone know if Bette came out to sign any Playbills last night? I heard she hasn't been doing it in previews, but now that the show officially opened I hope she might go out for a few minutes after each show now. Not holding my breath, but I can dream.....