Imelda Staunton & Jenna Russell to lead HELLO DOLLY in London- Page 4

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 12:33pm

I need Staunton as Belle in the “Beauty and the Beast” revival.

[JBC3]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 12:50pm

Up In One said: "
Imelda’s Gypsy and Follies were off putting to say the least"

LOL. Yes, that's why both drew packed houses throughout their runs and earned rave reviews from almost all of the UK press.

[Princeton2]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 2:15pm

It's a bit ironic so many are mocking imelda being cast all the time (which isnt true, shes just had a run of late that's all) when the same names are always dream cast on here and in many cases actually end up cast on Broadway.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:46pm

Dear god there are a lot of kids here. 

The Potter references to her are expected, but underwhelming.  She's been acting and singing long before Potter.  Do your research.

She chews scenery worse than LuPone.  She also has issues with going one-note in live performances.  She can't play a wide range, but instead goes balls out from the getgo.  It's annoying.

Her Dolly will be...  Interesting.  But likely more entertaining than Bette, who never really formed a character, but instead played yet another version of Soph.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:50pm

JBC3 said: "Up In One said: "
Imelda’s Gypsy and Follies were off putting to say the least"

LOL. Yes, that's why both drew packed houses throughout their runs and earned rave reviews from almost all of the UK press. "

 
I don't trust most UK critics.  They'd give a positive review to a bag of Skittles. 

Her Follies was fine, but Gypsy was a steaming trainwreck.  They brought in two leads who couldn't handle the material without making it feel community theatre. 

Quite simply, they didn't have the electricity or talent of LuPone and Laura in the OBCR.  

 

Updated On: 11/25/19 at 12:50 PM

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 12/24/19 at 3:01am

The website for this production has been updated with artwork, but all mention of Jenna Russell seems to have disappeared. I hope she's still a part of this!

 

https://hellodollyldn.com

Updated On: 12/24/19 at 03:01 AM

[Princeton2]

Posted: 12/24/19 at 4:18am

The website has been like that for weeks. To be honest aside Bazs original article I dont think jenna has officially been announced anywhere. Most places just took Bazs word for granted and ran with it. But all official media just list imelda for now

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:03pm

https://playbill.com/article/imelda-staunton-led-london-revival-of-hello-dolly-to-open-in-2024

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:09pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "https://playbill.com/article/imelda-staunton-led-london-revival-of-hello-dolly-to-open-in-2024"


That’s from a year ago. Besides that, still haven’t heard anything else about this other than it is still on the schedule. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:22pm

Jordan Catalano said: "jacobsnchz14 said: "https://playbill.com/article/imelda-staunton-led-london-revival-of-hello-dolly-to-open-in-2024"


That’s from a year ago. Besides that, still haven’t heard anything else about this other than it is still on the schedule."

Thanks! It was just brought to my attention and it didn't make the thread, but figured to heck with it. lol.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:43pm

I asked at the theatre last week about it and they said it’s still coming so hopefully we get some casting soon. I’d doubt Jenna is still doing it but I know Imelda still is. 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 6:15pm

It’s going to the Palladium in summer 24

I’m sad that Russell is still attached- she’s completely wrong for Irene.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 9/1/23 at 9:52pm

TotallyEffed said: "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

"

I saw her as Adelaide in "Guy & Dolls" in the last century and she was perfect, fabulous. Then I saw her in "Gypsy" and, yes, I agree, not-so-good and with that orchestra arrangement it was shrill on shrill. Still, she's a great performer and will bring something to Dolly Levi. But I'm not going to blow tons of carbon dioxide jet-farts over the Atlantic ocean just to see her.

 

Updated On: 9/1/23 at 09:52 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/1/23 at 11:08pm

Russell doing “Dot” is still something that sits with me. Just gorgeous. Irene seems… beneath her in a way? But hey I’m sure it’s a cute check and a great venue and exposure. 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 9/2/23 at 8:02pm

RippedMan said: "Russell doing “Dot” is still something that sits with me. Just gorgeous. Irene seems… beneath her in a way? But hey I’m sure it’s a cute check and a great venue and exposure."

That’s exactly what it is, it’s beneath her. 
 

It must be a passion project. Maybe Irene is someone she’s always wanted to play. It’s just bizarre that she’s old enough for Dolly. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/2/23 at 8:31pm

Is there anything saying Jenna is still attached to this? The only things I’ve seen for 2024 have said Imelda’s name. 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/3/23 at 7:23am

Imelda has been the embodiment of ham since Into the Woods.  In England she's approaching "national treasure" status though, so she can do no wrong.

Oh, and she's not very nice to understudies.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 9/3/23 at 7:42am

devonian.t said: "Imelda has been the embodiment of ham since Into the Woods. In England she's approaching "national treasure" status though, so she can do no wrong.

Oh, and she's not very nice to understudies."

I love how all of you here bang on about Patti being so amazing as Mama Rose and Imelda being terrible. I bet none of you actually saw her live in Gypsy in London. The filmed recording does her no justice at all. I saw both Patti and Imelda live in the show and Imelda was far superior. Where Patti was just loud, camp and .. well Patti, Imelda was moving, terrifying and powerful. 
 

Also she isn’t horrible to understudies- she expects everyone in the cast to be professional. There’s a difference.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/3/23 at 11:15am

I don't know why you're quoting me- I made no reference to Patti.  I left her Gypsy at the interval because it was horrible.

 

And refusing to go on with understudies is what Imelda did- repeatedly- and that's the opposite of professionalism

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/3/23 at 11:35am

I saw Imelda's Rose at Chichester and she was definitive for me. ALMOST Tyne quality.  I don't know what happened to her between that production and the West End and then the pro-shot...but SOMETHING happened...

[David10086]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 2:08am

Owen22 said: "I saw Imelda's Rose at Chichester and she was definitive for me. ALMOST Tyne quality. I don't know what happened to her between that production and the West End and then the pro-shot...but SOMETHING happened..."

And whatever happened wasn’t good. 

[binau]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 3:35am

Is there a temptation to take the role broader over time? Based on recordings, Patti herself was very broad at her final performance (but it might have just been cause it was the last show). Bernadette also became much broader, although in her case it seemed to work better (with finally Laurents declaring her rose took its ‘rightful place’ after this). Staunton seems very broad haha. 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 9:31am

Of course I saw Staunton do it live.  I only comment on things I've seen in-person.

She chewed enough scenery to stay full for months.  It was comical, actually.

And her vocal delivery was nothing special.  She's not a belter.

Her Dolly will be...  Very Imelda.  As per usual.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 3:45pm

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Of course I saw Staunton do it live. I only comment on things I've seen in-person.

She chewed enough scenery to stay full for months. It was comical, actually.

And her vocal delivery was nothing special. She's not a belter.

Her Dolly will be... Very Imelda. As per usual."

If all you want is someone belting at you- stay at home with your Patti recordings perhaps ?

 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/1/23 at 1:28pm

Announcement incoming... https://www.facebook.com/HelloDollyLDN