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

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.

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.

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

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!

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?

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!

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.

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 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.
"

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

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.

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.