Hello Dolly-Bette or Donna?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 1:39am

So Donna does only Wednesday matinees? Is that right and Bette does all the other performances? Can anyone clear that up for me? Thanks.

Updated On: 7/11/17 at 01:39 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 1:40am

Donna does Tuesdays, and all shows this and next week, since Bette is on vacation.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 3:18am

Thanks, when is Bette back?

[theaterdude2]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 8:36am

She is back on Wed July 12 matinee. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 10:39am

Bette Midler's regular schedule is all matinees and evening performances except Tuesday.

Donna Murphy's regular schedule: only Tuesday performances. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 2:06pm

Oh, thanks, my tix are after Bette returns, otherwise I was going to try to get a refund or an exchange since Bette is above the title.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 2:13pm

After you see it with Bette, try to see it again with Donna. She's simply wonderful in it, and tickets can be had for less than $100. 

[tomwsjr]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 5:28pm

I just saw the matinee with Donna, and she was fabulous!   Bette was also fabulous, but overall I think I prefer Donna. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/1/17 at 6:20pm

tomwsjr said: "I just saw the matinee with Donna, and she was fabulous!   Bette was also fabulous, but overall I think I prefer Donna. 

 

"

I saw it this afternoon also..and I also saw both leading actresses. Bette was Bette and simply fabulous but Donna was just spectacular...so I think I agree with you, though I am glad I saw both. One difference is with Bette, people are on her side already...Donna has more to prove and she totally does so.

 

 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 7/5/17 at 8:35pm

Saw Donna at the matinee today. House was full with people who bought tix at the box office or TKTS. Donna was in top form as was the rest of the cast, with David Hyde Pierce a tad more reserved than he is with Bette, but good nonetheless.

I would not describe today's experience as "electric," as it was with Bette. It may have been because it was a weekday matinee. It may have been because people hadn't bought their tickets in September and were hyped up with anticipation. But whatever the reason, the audience was a bit more subdued though totally into it (no standing ovation for the Hello, Dolly! number). Everyone around me said they loved it.

My two cents:

Donna is a better singer. As someone else mentioned, Donna has a fun Andrea Martin quality about her. A friend at the show today said she reminded him of Betty Garrett. I concur.

Bette is funnier.

Both are wonderful!

This is a first class production of a classic Broadway musical. The actors, singers, ensemble/dancers, music, orchestra, set, costumes are top notch. Gavin Creel is a jaw dropping triple threat. This is an absolute must see for musical theater enthusiasts/students. If for nothing else but to experience a top quality production in all areas. A rarity. 

ETA: To me, a key to a successful production is that the audience has to love Dolly. They have to be rooting for her. I have seen a number of Dollys that were dull and unexciting. That kills the show right there. In this production you'll root for both Bette and Donna.

Updated On: 7/6/17 at 08:35 PM

[EthelMae]

Posted: 7/6/17 at 2:05pm

I like to go back to favorite shows-a lot! When they close, I'm saddened and don't think I'll find another one. Multi views over the years have included CURIOUS INCIDENT, SWEENEY TODD, PACIFIC OVERTURES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, TRIP OF LOVE (I know, I don't care, I loved it!), etc. Now DOLLY is it. I saw Merman 4 times, now Bette once and Ms. Donna Murphy twice.

Caught yesterday's matinee courtesy of TDF. Orch Row M on the side but full view. Great audience. Ms. Murphy is wonderful. Love her belt voice, comic timing, she makes it all work. We were all watching Hello, Dolly! and it still works. Don't get me wrong. Bette is an event but the show still thrives with Donna Murphy. My friend told me today that his friends wanted to see the show but couldn't get tickets with Bette. So they went thru TDF with Donna. They wanted to see the show. I think that's great and perhaps the show will build with Donna because of that reason.

Anyway, I'm glad I have another return show to visit!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/6/17 at 2:15pm

I loved the show with Bette. I loved the show with Donna.  I'll be seeing both again.

[EthelMae]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 1:40am

Saw Donna for my third time tonight. Just great. Love the show.

BUT, I got my ticket thru TDF. I usually luck out with a decent seat location. Tonight I was in Row K, Mezz- last row. Crummy view of the stage. The balcony slopes down so you're watching the show in a shoe-box view. I will go with partial view again next time. Cheaper and I never thought I would say this but the Box location was so much better. Can't believe people are paying top dollar and more for those Mezz seats. The balcony would be better with nothing above you to cut off the view.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 7:19am

I was also there last night. My seats were in the left section of the balcony and I thought the view was just about perfect, plus they were ridiculously cheap. I haven't seen Bette yet, but will definitely return to catch her.

 

There's not much I can say about the production or cast that hasn't already been said. Everything and everyone was too good to be true. First class all around. My favorites of the supporting cast were Beanie Feldstein who was hysterical and so unlike any other Minnie Fay I'd ever seen and Kate Baldwin who found a lot of humor and sexiness in the role and sang the sh*t out of every note.

 

As for Donna, I thought she was absolutely sublime. She was hilarious, poignant, in great voice, and radiant with star power. She had the audience in the palm of her hand from the beginning and, based on the drawn out and enthusiastic entrance applause, everyone last night was clearly very excited to be seeing her.

 

The whole night was just musical comedy heaven. I felt like I was transported back in time in the best way possible. The audience even applauded when they started playing the title tune in the overture! During Put On Your Sunday Clothes, I started to tear up because it was all too perfect. I'll never forget it.

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 8:58am

I have not seen a more perfect revival of an American classic since 2008's South Pacific.

I was there last night and this could have easily been a lackluster production that exists solely for the purpose of the star, but you can see the painstaking detail and honing of the craft being displayed on that stage. I will proudly admit that I cried multiple times at the sheer display of showmanship, including "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" and the title song, with Dolly's descent down the stairs being the ultimate diva entrance I have ever seen.

Donna Murphy was truly revelatory, and she worked hard to win the audience over. She nailed the humor,  was sentimental in all the right places, and SANG THE HELL out of that score. If I'm being honest, the new cast recording with Bette left me a bit bored, as everything managed to come fully alive in the theatre more than it did on the recording. Also, as many have noted, her performance has more than a few hints of Andrea Martin in it (which made me love her more). Some mentioned David Hyde Pierce seeming miscast or bored, but I thought he was perfectly fine, since I saw Horace as a man who refuses to engage in the whimsy and nonsense around him, and insists on being the "straight" man in all of the melee. Gavin Creel blew me out of the water, especially with Taylor Trensch during "Motherhood", and Kate Baldwin is simply gorgeous and has a beautiful voice and her interplay with Beanie Feldstein (as Minnie Fay - a gem in her own right) was a highlight.

Go see Donna. There is ZERO chance you will be disappointed and you will leave feeling like you are glowing and walking on air.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 9:01am

I think the clear answer to the thread title is Both!

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 10:08am

NOWaWarning said: "I was also there last night. My seats were in the left section of the balcony and I thought the view was just about perfect, plus they were ridiculously cheap. I haven't seen Bette yet, but will definitely return to catch her.

 I am so glad to hear you liked your seats. I have been questioning whether I did the right thing buying through TodayTix since it was 39 dollars. I'm seeing it tomorrow!

[wolfwriter]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 10:48am

Also there last night and it was great.

I love that people are having such a great time at an "old-fashioned" traditional musical that isn't trying to be anything other than glorious entertainment.

2 1/2 hours fly by and what amused me most, afterward, was that I had a few extremely minor quibbles with the show (not worth mentioning), but, in the moment, they stood out as huge, because the rest of the production was so good.

Love David Hyde Pirece more, ever time I see him. He was perfect. I always wanted to be blown away by Kate Baldwin and, finally, last night, she won me over.

I love Donna Murphy as much as I intensely dislike Bette Midler. I won't see Bette so I can't compare and there's no need to. Both women are very accomplished in their own right.

If you can only choose Bette or Donna, choose whomever you like better and can afford (I'm sure Bette is great), but don't think for a second, that you're getting a second-rate production with Donna Murphy. She and the show are exceptional and I can't wait to go back.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 2:33pm

For anyone interested in seeing Bette on 7/12, the day of her return from vacation, there are 3 $189 side rear orchestra seats available for Wednesday matinee, and 1 $89 balcony seat available for Wednesday evening, on Telecharge right now.

[Whateverjsays]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 3:05pm

I saw the show with Bette back in April, honestly the best 2.5 hours of my life. I never wanted it to end. Truly a special show. I just bought tickets to see Donna in October, I hate having to wait so long but all the positive reviews of her are pumping me up! 

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 8:57pm

CT2NYC said: "For anyone interested in seeing Bette on 7/12, the day of her return from vacation, there are 3 $189 side rear orchestra seats available for Wednesday matinee, and 1 $89 balcony seat available for Wednesday evening, on Telecharge right now."

 

Thanks to you, I just snagged an orchestra seat, reg face value for the matinee. Appreciate the heads up! Cheers! 

 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/8/17 at 10:33pm

Flowerlovestage5 said: "CT2NYC said: "For anyone interested in seeing Bette on 7/12, the day of her return from vacation, there are 3 $189 side rear orchestra seats available for Wednesday matinee, and 1 $89 balcony seat available for Wednesday evening, on Telecharge right now."

 

Thanks to you, I just snagged an orchestra seat, reg face value for the matinee. Appreciate the heads up! Cheers! 

Excellent! As always, I'm glad to help, and, as long as people keep using my tips, I'll keep posting them.

 

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 8:19am

Huge fan of Miss M - but I preferred Hello, Dolly! with Donna Murphy more than I like Hello, Bette!

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 12:27pm

Bette is my girl and she is the one to see.  Beckons back to the days of star turns by the likes of Channing, Bacall, Yul Brynner, Ethel Merman, Mary Martin. Liza, etc....  You can see many fabulous Dollys in many theaters everywhere as this show is always being done.  But there is only one Bette.   

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 8:42pm

CT2NYC said: "For anyone interested in seeing Bette on 7/12, the day of her return from vacation, there are 3 $189 side rear orchestra seats available for Wednesday matinee, and 1 $89 balcony seat available for Wednesday evening, on Telecharge right now.

UPDATE: All the above seats are gone, but another seat popped up on Telecharge for the 8:00 p.m. show this Wednesday, 7/12. Seat R 22 in the orchestra, for $189. Get it while it's hot!