HELLO, DONNA! - Murphy begins performances — Page 16

Glad to see so many favorable posts for Donna Murphy here. I love Midler in the role but I gotta say when Murphy hits those last couple of notes in the reprise of Before the Parade Passes By and then the curtain falls on the Act, well it's beyond exciting.

TheSassySam said: "How often are Tuesday performances of Hello, Dolly! on TDF?



I am hoping for a cheaper ticket for Dec. 4, but not sure if I could get the ticket cheaper than what's listed at the moment."

They're almost always on TDF. Whether you get a good seat is another matter. I know people who've gotten great seats. I got last row of the balcony.

This production is the best show I have ever seen (not an exaggeration, it is tied with another though). The sets are absolutely gorgeous, the costumes are lavish and envoke the period wonderfully, the entire cast is so stunning, I could go on and on. The overture is incredibly divisive however. I personally really love it, the way Dancing leads into Sunday Clothes and then to Dolly is magical. It is very quiet though. I prefer the original or 1994 overtures if I'm honest.

mkr0001 said: "David10086 said: "So glad I read here about her performance, and was very encouraged by many here to see her as "Dolly". I have my $99 ticket for this Sunday matinee (front row mezz)."

Hi--I'm fairly new to this board, I also live out of town so I apologize for my ignorance. How do I get relative inexpensive tickets for Donna's performance? I am flying out there in November and would love to see her.Thank you!"

Go to telechargeoffers.com and click on the Hello, Dolly! offer that's listed on the home page. That'll give you $109 orchestra and $99 mezzanine seats for any Donna performance.

CT2NYC said: Go to telechargeoffers.com and click on theHello, Dolly!offer that's listed on the home page. That'll give you $109 orchestra and $99 mezzanine seats for any Donna performance.

Thank you, CT2NYC!

Updated On: 9/16/17 at 01:22 AM

Telecharge offers.com is where I got my first row center orchestra seat for $99. Though a great deal, I think I might have preferred further back in the orchestra or front mezzanine. I have a feeling I'm not seeing everything on stage being so close.

Hate to be one of the only naysayers, and I do think that Donna is an amazing musical theatre actress, but DOLLY demands total star power as well as talent, and sadly Donna doesn't have that, imo. Yes, she worked very hard from the first moment, but the hard work showed. There were some really great moments, but not enough to carry the show. Best example was the title number, which began to feel kind of tired by the third time around. And the laughs just didn't come the way they did with Midler.

I have been watching DOLLY since it opened in 1964, and Channing, Grable, Merman and especially Bailey were all amazing, as was Midler. Hoping Bernadette is that good, not quite sure but hopeful. And this production is terrific in every aspect: design, staging, the incomparable supporting cast right down the line. One of the best musical librettos in the canon, and Jerry Herman's score remains one the greats. But my expectations for Donna, especially after the reviews and the comments here, simply weren't met.

jayinchelsea said: "Hate to be one of the only naysayers, and I do think that Donna is an amazing musical theatre actress, but DOLLY demands total star power as well as talent, and sadly Donna doesn't have that, imo. Yes, she worked very hard from the first moment, but the hard work showed. There were some really great moments, but not enough to carry the show. Best example was the title number, which began to feel kind of tired by the third time around. And the laughs just didn't come the way they did with Midler.

I have been watching DOLLY since it opened in 1964, and Channing, Grable, Merman and especially Bailey were all amazing, as was Midler. Hoping Bernadette is that good, not quite sure but hopeful. And this production is terrific in every aspect: design, staging, the incomparable supporting cast right down the line. One of the best musical librettos in the canon, and Jerry Herman's score remains one the greats. But my expectations for Donna, especially after the reviews and the comments here, simply weren't met."





I like Donna but I actually agree with most of what you say . And I would say most people do as well. Except for here. Remember this is BWW and a lot ( not all) of the posters here can't afford a Bette ticket and need to justify themselves . And Donna is terrific . But she doesn't touch Bette. She just doesn't . There are a lot of people outside of the 5 queens that post over and over again here .

All I'll say is, Donna Murphy is my Carol Channing, not Bette Midler. And for me she has more star power on a broadway stage than almost anyone else. And I've seen some stars (though I have not seen Bette, but have also loved her on the small screen). Donna Murphy singing "Before the Parade Passes By" and eating dumplings? I could go back night after night.

EthelMae said: "Guess I must be one of the five or so queens the poster here is referring to who posts all the time, so hear I go again!

I love Bette Midler in this role but let's face it no other Dolly, I bet, could get away with saying, "dumplings, lighter than air they are, well, I'll be the judge of that" and then tosses the dumpling into the orchestra pit! This isn't the line in the script and that isn't the stage direction for the dumpling! Also, the other day Bette went crazy with the salting of the beets and is now doing a long thing with David Hyde Pierce with "you hate the beets?, or you ate the beets?..." and him saying "yes, I ate the beets and now I hate the beets!", etc., with the two them trying to not laugh and suddenly it's the Carol Burnett show. Now, again, I love both of them and I laughed out loud but it's not Dolly and Horace having dinner at their table scene.

Donna Murphy does similar business but it's pulled back and it's still funny and, I think, truer to the musical play we're watching.

Now Midler fans come for that stuff and she delivers it and they lap it up as do I. Midler's eating scene in the court scene is hysterical and reminds me of Lucille Ball. Almost channeling Ball. And I love that too.

I guess I'm saying that I'm glad the show can play well with Murphy and that it goes to show that the musical is strong enough to play with most women who have played this part. And so it will with Bernadette Peters."

Ethel; I wasn't referring to you in particular. And I am one of a group of queens myself. But one could just tell when someone is writing something honestly or just trying to stir the pot. I have told you before.. I love Donna in this. But what you described is exactly why Bette rules in this.. and why this production was conceived. She delivers on everything I wanted her Dolly to be. I do love reading when you write about the show because it is coming from a honest and loving place. And again I will say.. I have seen both ladies a few times and with both you get a fantastic show. But this is Bette's show. The only reason it is back is because of Bette. And BTW.... I heard a little rumor of what exactly is going on at the Shubert the week the show goes dark between stars. Lets just say that if true many more will have the opportunity to experience Bette's Dolly .

^^wait... Bette is going to be doing another week or she doing a special concert during that week?

If you're implying Bette might extend her run for another couple of weeks, I would be very disappointed. I think most people who paid a premium to be at her last performance would be very disappointed. Let's hope that's not the case.