HELLO, DOLLY! Sets August 25 Closing Date; Bette Midler to Return July 17- Page 20

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 2:04am

Miles2Go2 said: "You’ll have a great, great time! I was lucky enough to see both Bette and Bernadette and, while their takes on the role are unique, both are great. Bernadette’s take was more emotional while Bette’s was more hilarious as I’m sure you’ve heard. Both filled me with joy. Wish I could have seen Donna, but oh well! Alas, I won’t be able to make another trip to Dolly’s Yonkers (unless it tours near me). I’ll just have to take some small solace in the ticket I purchased today to see Wicked in Tulsa on September 6th."

HD with Donna was incomparable.  Outside of seeing Carol Channing (the natural in the role) back in the mid 90s revival, Donna was easily the second best of the Dollys I saw.  I didn't see Bernadette but did see Bette.  And as some have noted, with Bette it was an event.  Sort of a celebrity/star-driven event, more about her than the show.  Donna is a Broadway diva and brought it home in a very special way.  In a very special Broadway way.  Her talk with Ephraim....considering her own personal story away from the stage....was heartfelt and amazing.  

Channing will always be Dolly to me, but Murphy just knocked it out of the park.  Of the three Dollys I've seen, Murphy is the one who easily and by far takes the silver medal.   

 

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 10:55am

I saw Dolly yesterday with Murphy.  It was my second time with her.  And I came away with the same impression I did before.  She was fine.  A beautiful performance.  But I still came out thinking;  Meh...  I love her.  But she is not even in the top 5 for me.

Will be there two more times for Bette this week.  I am really going to miss this show and her in it. 

 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 1:58pm

I was there this Saturday and will be there for closing.  The whole show these days is on  red blazing fire.  Bette sounds vocally better than ever.  Multiple ovations mid show.  The title number was such a love fest.  Even more than other times I have seen it.   The Dinner/Courtroom scene was pure magic.  They were loosing it up there and taking the audience on such a joyous ride. I think the laughter added a few minutes to the show.  The very last scene between Dolly and Horace had so many layers to it.  I hope we get anther big musical with a mega star turn soon.  Nothing like a night of Diva worship on broadway.  

[BroadwayLover4]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 2:22pm

I can not wait until Saturday evening!!!

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 2:35pm

Amber Ruffin (writer for Seth Meyers) saw Bette over the weekend- her thread about it is a hilarious must-read

https://twitter.com/ambermruffin/status/1031029781956055041

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 8:45pm

Love the window card, and the magnetic ticket holder is very nice. They were out of the red mugs, and most all of the other things that I wanted I bought when I saw Bernadette.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 8/20/18 at 9:22pm

The audience reaction is so electric for this production, unlike any other show I've been to, making it a truly special and amazing event. Note to self: Bring a lot of tissues to the Saturday matinee. We are so fortunate and lucky to have been part of this! 

 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 12:32pm

Mezzanine D 21-23 are available on Telecharge for the final performance on Saturday, $229 each.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 1:04pm

dmwnc1959 said: "Love the window card,and the magnetic ticket holder is very nice. They were out of the red mugs, and most all of the other things that I wanted I bought when I saw Bernadette.

"

They didn't have the magnetic ticket holders any of the times I went.  I wonder I can get it on line?

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 5:15pm

SmokeyLady said: "They didn't have the magnetic ticket holders any of the times I went. I wonder I can get it on line?"

 

The ticket holder actually comes with a replica ticket of Opening Night w/ Bette Midler at the Shubert Theater and on the flip side is the Opening Night of the 1964 show at the St. James Theater. She acted like they were trying to get rid of them, and for $10 I wasn’t about to pass it up. I do remember seeing them the first visit back at the end of May, but didn’t quite pay much attention to it. Wish I had bought two of them now because I haven’t seen them online anywhere. 

Updated On: 8/21/18 at 05:15 PM

[EddieP]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 5:48pm

I saw Bernadette 9 times, and Donna's last last night.  My impression was that Donna was very good -- a different interpretation (bright, cheery, flirtatious), but Bernadette's Dolly is way more intense.  I also liked Garber's interpretation.  David Hyde Pierce is more of a comedic actor, but Garber stuck with playing Vandergelder as a clueless fool, and it worked better for me.   --The thing with Bernadette is she really improvises a lot and is really edgy.  You can feel the tension -- even with the cast -- so the experience is a bit more intense.   Donna's younger, her vocal chops are good -- and she has fun mugging for the audience, but it was way more fun watching Bernadette wondering what she's going to do next.   On the other hand, Donna didn't get to play Dolly almost every night of the weeks for 8 months -- so you're comparing an Apple and oranges situation.  Whatever.... both were worth the price of the tickets. 

As a final note... love that conductor.  Had great seats most the show, so only saw the back of his head, but wow -- that guy has charisma.  He was even wearing a shiny read bowtie!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 7:38pm

I love HELLO, DOLLY!

[BwayJudd]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 8:59pm

EddieP said: "I saw Bernadette 9 times, and Donna's last last night. My impression was that Donna was very good -- a different interpretation (bright, cheery, flirtatious), but Bernadette's Dolly is way more intense. I also liked Garber's interpretation. David Hyde Pierce is more of a comedic actor, but Garber stuck with playing Vandergelder as a clueless fool, and it worked better for me. --The thing with Bernadette is she really improvises a lot and is really edgy. You can feel the tension -- even with the cast -- so the experience is a bit more intense. Donna's younger, her vocal chops are good -- and she has fun mugging for the audience, but it was way more fun watching Bernadette wondering what she's going to do next. On the other hand, Donna didn't get to play Dolly almost every night of the weeks for 8 months -- so you're comparing an Apple and oranges situation. Whatever.... both were worth the price of the tickets.
 

I could have written this exactly, right down to seeing Bernadette 9 times!  I saw Donna a few weeks ago, but had the same experience.  She was funny and fun, but played Dolly so bright and cheery.   I loved how intense Bernadette was and how in her Dolly you really saw the change from before Dancing and Parade, to after.  Dolly really grew and came back to the human race.   Like you said, she had 8 shows a week to work on it too.  Both are fantastic vocally, but I preferred what Bernadette did vocally compared to both Bette and Donna.   

Victor too just brought something I really loved to Horace ..  plus the chemistry between him and Bernadette was incredible. 

This is what i love about three strong performers playing this role.   Everyone can have their own interpretations and feelings.   What works for me won’t work for all.   But, damn, they were all a treat to watch.   Plus the absolutely stellar cast/ensemble.   I’m going to miss this show so much.  

 

 

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 8:59pm

Is it Saturday at 8 yet?

I've never been this excited to see a live event. Never.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 9:08pm

I have bittersweet feelings about Saturday night.

[WaffleOnWheels]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 9:15pm

Dollypop said: "I have bittersweet feelings about Saturday night."

Me too. In one respect it can't get here fast enough (My first time seeing Bette!), but I also can't stand thinking it's over. This show has brought so much joy to me in the past year I can't even begin to express it.

[WaffleOnWheels]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 9:15pm

Dollypop said: "I have bittersweet feelings about Saturday night."

Me too. In one respect it can't get here fast enough (My first time seeing Bette!), but I also can't stand thinking it's over. This show has brought so much joy to me in the past year I can't even begin to express it.

[EddieP]

Posted: 8/21/18 at 10:02pm

OK, here’s the big question: Molly Griggs. Is it the make up and character, or is her stage presence that strong? I really feel she lights up the stage, even when she’s just in the chorus. I’m going to be so disappointed if DOLLY is just a one off for her!!!

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 12:40am

EddieP said: "OK, here’s the big question: Molly Griggs. Is it the make up and character, or is her stage presence that strong? I really feel she lights up the stage, even when she’s just in the chorus. I’m going to be so disappointed if DOLLY is just a one off for her!!!

I thought she was fine but I didn’t love her performance by any means. Beanie was far superior.
"

 

[BroadwayBeebe]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 2:36am

n2nbaby said: "EddieP said: "OK, here’s the big question: Molly Griggs. Is it the make up and character, or is her stage presence that strong? I really feel she lights up the stage, even when she’s just in the chorus. I’m going to be so disappointed if DOLLY is just a one off for her!!!

I thought she was fine but I didn’t love her performance by any means. Beanie was far superior.
"

100% agree. I wish that Beanie and Jennifer Simard were both still with the production to close it. Every time Ernestina appears at the top of Act 2, I now sigh and am reminded that we don’t still have what Jennifer Simard brought to the production. 

Updated On: 8/22/18 at 02:36 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 2:43am

Having just watched "Lady Birdy" on a flight, Beanie is a true treasure. Happy closing to the cast!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 8:38am

I enjoyed Molly Griggs as Minnie Fay.  I thought she has definitely grown in the role since I first saw her at the end of February.

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 8:55am

I also think Molly has grown into the role these past few months and I think she's great!  I wish she had the same dancing part Beanie had near the end of "Dancing" where she starts doing the tap dancing (ok she wasn't wearing tap shoes but it looked like tap dancing) with 5-6 members of the ensemble. When I saw the show on Monday, they gave that dancing part to Charlie Stemp which is great but I always loved it when Beanie did it.

 

[Browneyes142]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 12:00pm

dmwnc1959 said: "SmokeyLady said: "They didn't have the magnetic ticket holders any of the times I went. I wonder I can get it on line?"



The ticket holderactually comeswith a replica ticket of Opening Night w/ Bette Midler at the Shubert Theater and on the flip side is the Opening Night of the 1964 show at the St. James Theater.She acted like they were trying to get rid of them, and for $10 I wasn’t about to pass it up. I do remember seeing them the first visit back at the end ofMay, but didn’t quite pay much attention to it. Wish I had bought two of them now because I haven’t seen them online anywhere."

If anyone is able to get a hold of another one, I would love to have one but if there are any left, I'm sure they'll be long gone by Saturday. I will be at the show Saturday night and the get together beforehand. If someone is able to buy one earlier this week or has an extra that they're looking to get rid of (yeah right ??), I can pay you for it on Saturday if you will be around.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 8/22/18 at 12:37pm

If anyone is still looking for a good non-premium ticket for Saturday's final performance, center mezzanine G 106 is available on Telecharge for $169.