Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?

[Fiyero13]

Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#1

Posted: 2/18/08 at 11:58am

I mean are the songs, the choreography, book any good?

[sondheimgeek]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#2

Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:00pm

This is Jerry Herman we're talking about. Of course the show will be good! This is actually quality theatre.

"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

[CapnHook]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#2

Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:02pm

It's based on THE MATCHMAKER, if you've read that play, to get an idea of the book's concept.

It's difficult to critique the choreography as I would hope the choreography would be different for each production, no? Unless you're referring to the Barbra Streisand movie.

I enjoy HELLO, DOLLY! although I don't think it's the greatest piece of musical theatre. It's not BAD, but not the greatest. It's not GYPSY or WEST SIDE STORY.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

[WickedBoy2]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#3

Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:09pm

Not without Ms Channing i'm afraid! There's a tour of the showing in the UK at the moment and its limping from city to city even with a well known name in the lead. London has had 3 seasons of 'Hello, Dolly' and all three were with Carol Channing, sadly something we wont see ever again.

A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!'' Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'

[BobbyBubby]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#4

Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:33pm

Ummm, yes. You've never heard a single song from this score? C'mon!

[D2]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#5

Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:42pm

As brilliant as Miss Channing was, she is not crucial to HELLO, DOLLY! being done well. It may not have the gravitas of WSS or GYPSY, but it is still one of the best musicals ever written. Its book is very tightly structured and very, very funny, and the score is tuneful while moving the plot along quite nicely. It does depend on the woman playing Dolly (as do productions of THE MATCHMAKER) but the Dolly doesn't have to be Carol Channing.

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

Updated On: 2/18/08 at 12:42 PM

[BigFatBlonde]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#6

Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:47pm

If you are a person who appreciates the art form of musical theatre in general then you are pretty much required to acquaint yourself with Hello, Dolly. It is among the greatest of musical comedies in every sense of the term. Be aware, a bad production could turn you off the show

...however...

If you are a person who "thinks" he appreciates the art of musical theatre in general but really only likes a handful of shows.. usually things like:

Wicked
Rent
Legally Blonde
Any of the Disney Shows

Then stay away from from it. Stick to what you know you like.

What great ones do the less will prattle of

[roquat]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#7

Posted: 2/18/08 at 1:51pm

It's okay. I'm one of the few who actually enjoys Barbara Streisand in the otherwise forgettable movie version (she's almost the only person in it who doesn't project an air of antiquated musical-comedy darlingness). You really need skilled comic actors to make it work, though.

I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."

[songanddanceman2]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#8

Posted: 2/18/08 at 1:56pm

lol wickedboy i have tickets to the UK tour thats "limping from city to city" lol,

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

[broadwayfan7]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#9

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:02pm

If you have the chance to see it, definitely do!

"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."

[Unknown User]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#10

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:03pm

Why do people post questions like this? Isn't any show "Worth seeing" if you have a chance? If you really hate it, leave. But there is something of value in seeing a show- any show- that you haven't seen before.

[ljay889]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#11

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:04pm

I can't believe he really had to ask if DOLLY is a good show.

[BobbyBubby]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#12

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:13pm

True, it can shine without Channing, but seeing her in the show is one of the major highlights of my theatregoing career.

[Unknown User]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#13

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:31pm

I always found Carol's performance a bit Corny. But maybe that's just me.

[BobbyBubby]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#14

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:34pm

I didin't at all. I found her to be thrilling, funny, and pitch on in every scene and song. She knows the material backwards and forwards. I doubt she'd do another run of it, but I'd be in the front row.

[TheatreDiva90016]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#15

Posted: 2/18/08 at 2:38pm

The show has been produced countless times in thousands of productions...


It must really suck.

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

[Unknown User]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#16

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:00pm

Diva if it's so good why wasn't Idina Menzel in it?

[BobbyBubby]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#17

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:08pm

Idina is more of a Horace, don't you think?

[TheatreDiva90016]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#18

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:18pm

No one wants a green Dolly.

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

[me2]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#19

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:19pm

This is such a wonderful show. Go!
Broadway Blog: Broadway Star Bingo IV

[fflagg]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#20

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:33pm

When Jackie Hoffman and Mo'Nique are in it I will see it again.

The show is very tired yet the film is quite underrated; the main problems are the director and the time it came out.

All aboard!

Do you know what happens when you let Veal Prince Orloff sit in an oven too long?

[inlovewithjerryherman]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#21

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:33pm

You must go. "Hello, dolly!" is one of the best simply fun musicals ever written. a very funny book and one of the greatest scores of all time.

[roquat]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#22

Posted: 2/18/08 at 3:59pm

Just saw Channing being interviewed by Florence Henderson in her home--she's just as darling and full of life now (at 87) as she ever was!

I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."

[Lavieboheme2]

re: Is Hello, Dolly worth seeing?#23

Posted: 2/18/08 at 6:59pm

i guess...... depends on the cast and costumes

pop. six. squish. uh oh. sicero. lipshitz.