Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:43am
I've been reading the reviews for the revival of dolly, and they're unlike any raves I've ever read. So much so, that I couldn't help but compare it to the only other show I know to be so popular- Hamilton. Now I know that its near impossible to compare two shows this different (polar opposites), but I was wondering... is dolly really that good?
Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:53am
I'd ask Dollypop who's seen HAMILTON many more times than HELLO DOLLY.
Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:56am
Impossible to compare. HELLO, DOLLY! is a classic traditional "old school" musical. In its staging and with its headlining "star." Every few years this happens where a traditional "old school" musical is embraced. HELLO, DOLLY! starring the legendary Bette Midler is the one for 2017. Has nothing to do with which is "better." All based on preference. HAMILTON is a trending musical in the day and age of social media and hashtags and marketing. It was properly marketed like a pop performer hence its obvious successful exposure. HELLO, DOLLY! is solely a Broadway entity. Its successful exposure to the masses is solely due in part to Bette Midler's participation. Things would have been different had someone like Patti LuPone headlined this revival. It would have been just a well-embraced Broadway revival. Nothing more; nothing less.
Posted: 4/12/17 at 12:22pm
I wish I could know what it was like when the original Hello Dolly! premiered in 1964. It seemed to have been a great cultural smash as well with topping the Billboard charts and being covered by Louis Armstrong and winning Grammys and all that. What I mean to say is that Hello Dolly! seemed to be one of those shows to be really embraced by the mainstream when that was more common and not seen as something as exceptional as it is now.
