Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#1
Posted: 11/21/19 at 5:57pmImelda will play the title character and Jenna Russell will play Irene Malloy at the Adelphi beginning August 2020. @hellodollyldn The production will be directed by Dominic Cooke (NT Follies) and produced by David Ian and Michael Harrison.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#2
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:01pm
If you're going to paste from Baz, I'll include the link.
https://twitter.com/BazBam/status/1197649069914673153
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#3
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:04pmLove Imelda, and I certainly won’t be seeing this since I don’t live in London, but I really hope she doesn’t trot out the stark raving mad schtick she’s been pushing for the last 5 years or so.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#4
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:06pmMehhhh.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#5
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:11pmWhy can’t we just have Jenna Russell as Dolly?
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#6
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:12pm
I’m frankly too much of a Potter nut to like her and root for her so I simply cannot imagine her as Dolly Levi.
That being said, I had no idea she was in musician theatre. I wish them the best. Not a Rudin production I assume?
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#7
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:15pm
oh lord, how will Imelda complicate this character? Wasn't Elaine Paige available?
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#8
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:15pm
Mike Barrett said: "I’m frankly too much of a Potter nut to like her and root for her so I simply cannot imagine her as Dolly Levi.
That being said, I had no idea she was in musician theatre. I wish them the best. Not a Rudin production I assume? "
She’s been in Follies, Gypsy, and Sweeney Todd just in the last few years
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#9
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:16pmRussell seems old for that part no?
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#10
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:19pm
SouthernCakes said: "Russell seems old for that part no? "
This my my thought too. I’d much rather see Russell’s Dolly.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#11
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:20pm
SouthernCakes said: "Russell seems old for that part no?"
In many ways no. I almost makes more sense for a woman her age to be tired of being a widow running a hat shop, tired of being called a wicked woman, and longing to "rejoin the human race."
However it's in the script Cornelius is in his 20s (I forget the age the line says) so it's certainly making a statement about the age gap.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#12
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:21pm
Why in the world is this anything other than the Rudin production with Bette at the Palladium?
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#13
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:23pm
I'm sure this will be... very stately.
Understudy Joined: 12/12/11
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#14
Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:36pm
nasty_khakis said: "However it's in the script Cornelius is in his 20s (I forget the age the line says) so it's certainly making a statement about the age gap."
He's 33.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#15
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:05pm
I'm sure she'll be better than Midler, but I couldn't possibly sit through the show again to find out.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#16
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:23pmSo this isn’t the Zaks production? I thought Russell is too old as well.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#17
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:25pmNever mind. BWW updated its original article stating it’s a new production.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#18
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:31pm
I also had the initial reaction that Russell is too old. But ultimately the character doesn’t HAVE to be young, and Russell will surely do a great job.
That said, I agree that that she’d be a great Dolly. I don’t mind Imelda; she’s the right “type,” and I’m sure she can hit all the notes and all the comedic beats. But I have a feeling that her Dolly will be pretty devoid of charm and likability.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#19
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:33pmThese criticisms sound like people reacting to Buckley all over again and things turned out fine with her. Dolly offers a lot of room for women with different personalities and styles to embody the character.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#20
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:51pm
Mike Barrett said: "I’m frankly too much of a Potter nut to like her and root for her so I simply cannot imagine her as Dolly Levi.
That being said, I had no idea she was in musician theatre. I wish them the best. Not a Rudin production I assume? "
Maybe Im twisted ,but Dolores Umbridge is one of my favorite characters. I just love how you evil she is.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#21
Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:59pm
gleek4114 said: "Why can’t we just have Jenna Russell as Dolly?"
my exact reaction.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#22
Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:09pmWhat an absolutely insane choice of casting. I’ll be in town for “Sister Act” so I’m 100% going to see this but this will no doubt be the most intense Dolly Levi we’ll ever see. I can’t imagine who they’ll cast as Horace next to her.
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#23
Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:09pm
CATSNYrevival said: "Why in the world is this anything other than the Rudin production with Bette at the Palladium?"
My thoughts too
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#24
Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:45pm
The absence of an exclamation point is telling.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London#25
Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:48pmHmm... this could possibly be where I celebrate seeing the show for the 100th time.
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