Is Dolly Too Frivolous

Friends of mine were complaining that Bette will make Dolly too broad - almost a caricature- of a real person. I agree- and am glad. Hello, Dolly has never been one of my favorite musicals- though I saw it with Channing in one of her revivals years ago. I like a musical with some heft, some emotional weight, a love story or exploration of a subject in a serious way. Hello, Dolly is not this. I think Dolly will be perfect for Midler- and was for Streisand too, though too young for the role- and why I do have my third row center seats for April. Is Dolly really anyones favorite musical just in terms of book, music and character development?

It's one of my favorites. I'm as excited for a first-class revival as I am for Ms. Midler (who is more than capable of crating a 3 dimensional character). I think there's plenty of there there in Dolly. Especially for people entering a new phase in their lives or trying to move on from a closed chapter. No, it's not August Osage County but even the lightest of musicals (which this is not) are capable of resonating with an audience in a profound way. I'm a huge fan of the score and the book is pretty perfect.

I love this board- the bitchiness is unparalleled. Funny. Anyway, I am seeing it in April- and looking forward to it though it is not one of my favorite musicals- but Bette is one of my favorite performers. If the new Dolly were not one of my favorite performers, I would miss it. It is true, I prefer a musical like Hamilton, In The Heights, Light In The Piazza West Side Story- to name a few of my all-time favorites- but Dolly will be just fined, thank you very much. Just wanted to see if other people shared my perception. So bring on the insults and disrespectful reactions to my post- and then go vote for Trump.

"I love this board- the bitchiness is unparalleled."

Such as your own?

" Funny. Anyway, I am seeing it in April- and looking forward to it though it is not one of my favorite musicals-"

Odd that you're looking forward to it, then.

" If the new Dolly were not one of my favorite performers, I would miss it."

It wouldn't miss you.

"It is true, I prefer a musical like Hamilton, In The Heights, Light In The Piazza West Side Story- to name a few of my all-time favorites- but Dolly will be just fined,"

Fined how much? And for what? Being a musical with good music? Being a musical that people enjoy?

"Just wanted to see if other people shared my perception."

What perception?

I have been lucky to see Ms Midler in concert a few times and she can be completely over the top one second and then have you crying your heart out with raw emotion the next. If this show is even slightly like that it will be a magical evening. Just go and see it for what it is - Bette Midler, on Broadway doing Hello Dolly ... As you say, you are looking forward to it so I am not sure how much analysis from your friends is needed of that!

Updated On: 9/29/16 at 08:54 AM

People share all manner of tastes regarding media, and all are valid. You have expressed that you prefer darker and more "serious" works, which is fine. As a few people have pointed out, Hello Dolly is not as simple as many assume (I especially appreciate Stage Door Sally's analysis of it). However, even if you do take it as light fluff, there are indeed people who prefer that.

I personally enjoy my media to be more of a lighter and happier fare, and especially to have a happy ending. There's already enough darkness in the real world - I don't need more of that in my entertainment. With that said, I certainly appreciate darker, more serious, and more "intellectual" works, and there are plenty I enjoy, but when given the choice between two works, I'll most times choose the more upbeat work.

I sadly have never seen Hello Dolly on stage before (only recently got into this particular medium), and so I've only seen the movie version with Streisand recently, and enjoyed it. I have been told the stage version is superior to the movie, so I'm looking forward to seeing the stage version with Bette in May. I do love the music especially though, even before I actually saw it - my major exposure to its music (as well as that from Oklahoma and The Music Man) was in the background music to Main Street USA in Disney World - I love that music, and it eventually lead me to seek out the actual origins for the original vocal versions.

"Ephraim, let me go. It's been long enough, Ephraim. Every evening for all these years I've put out the cat, I've locked the door, I've made myself a little rum toddy and before I went to bed I said a prayer thanking God that I was independent, that no--one else's life was mixed up with mine. Then one night an oak leaf fell out of my Bible. I placed it there when you asked me to marry you, Ephraim. A perfectly good oak leaf but without color and without life. And I suddenly realized that I was like that leaf. For years I had not shed one tear nor had I been filled with the wonderful hope that something or other would turn out well. And so I've decided to rejoin the human race, and Ephraim, I want you to give me away...Before The Parade Passes By..."

This has always been my absolute favorite dialogue into a song. There is genuine emotion and fear in that monologue.

Updated On: 9/29/16 at 10:10 AM

One might ask the same question of Noel Coward plays or Shakespeare's comedies or Aristophanes or Charlie Chaplin movies. There is a human truth to comedy that your question displays a lack of experience with. Your question is like asking "Is Love's Labour's Lost too frivolous?" or "Is Private Lives too frivolous?" or "Is Mickey Mouse too frivolous?"

Comedy and tragedy have existed side by side since storytelling first began. While it is easy to see the deeper ramifications of a tragic story, it takes a taste for humor and irony and metaphor--the ability to see beyond the humor to the comment being made on the human condition that underlies the humor.

Getting back to Dolly, what Stage Door Sally said was spot on.Here's a clip of actress Pearl Bailey, who took over the role, as you may know, during the initial Broadway run with an all-black cast. Pearl imbues the monologue that carolineorchange posted above, which leads into "Before the Parade Passes By" with a level of emotionality that I predict will shock you, startle you, shake your foundation to the core and make your realize that it isn't "Hello, Dolly" that is lacking in "heft, emotional weight, or an exploration of a subject in a serious way"--on the contrary, it was your question that was shallow.



Okay, ready? Watch and respond below:

Updated On: 9/29/16 at 10:24 AM

So interesting getting these perspectives on Hello, Dolly. It helps me see the depth in it. Thank you.

I think the question can be rephrased as whether you treat theater as an entertainment or a form of expression. If both, which is more important to you. The conclusion we can all agree on is that there's more than one side of theater and that's probably why many of us are so into the hybrid form.

Updated On: 9/29/16 at 11:24 AM

Frivolous? I coitenly hope so!

We need a little frivolity with all that's going on in the world. I would say this Dolly is arriving right on time to sooth us and make us forget our troubles for two-and-a-half hours.

Frivolous? Yes, I pray to Christ that it's frivolous!

"Hello, Dolly!" is letter perfect. Perfect in a way very few musicals are. I can only think of "She Loves Me", and "A Little Night Music" as other examples of sheer musical perfection.

As for frivolousness, it may be true Dolly is a broad comedy, but there's a very real emotional undercurrent. Dolly speaking to her Ephraim, her desire to return to the human race - that's real. How can you fails to be moved by Dolly's oak leaf monologue? Channing owns the role, it's true. But that doesn't mean Miss Midler will fail to bring new shadings and wonderful vocals to this perfect musical. In fact, as the first Dolly opening on Broadway besides Channing, I'm sure she'll be perfect as well.

that is the most ridiculous question I've ever heard. Hello, Dolly! is not frivolous. It is joyful. They are totally different meaning. How can one see a musical like Hello, Dolly! and not realise the message behind it is beyond my understanding especially in the posted monologue and Before the Parade Passes By.