Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:28pm

Interesting 2 page article about the Goodspeed "Hello Dolly" and Jerry Herman's preference for the role of "Dolly."




Hello Dolly!

Updated On: 7/11/13 at 07:28 PM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:41pm

I think she'd make a fun and sassy Dolly. Would love to see it!

Now who would make a good Horace for her? My first thought was Nathan Lane, he'd match Bette on the fun factor. But I read on BWW he is no longer doing musicals. Terrence Mann is a little young, but he can probably play older. Maybe Gary Beach. I love him and he has played Horace before.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:48pm

Lane has said he'll do a musical if the right opportunity comes along.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:56pm

^^^^ I'll be very surprised if Lane thinks Horace Vandergelder is "the right opportunity", unless he does it just to work with Midler.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:59pm

I doubt he would, too. Horace is very much a thankless role.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:31pm

She's too old. Dolly is supposed to be in her 40s, maybe early 50s.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:33pm

She looked great in the HBO film of her Vegas show; I could believe her as a middle-aged Dolly. But if she herself says she is too old to carry a vehicle-type show 8 times per week, we should probably take her at her word.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:34pm

Victor Garber

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:40pm

"Victor Garber"

I don't think Broadway is ready for a male Dolly.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:41pm

She could do 6 shows a week, while another person could cover the matinees. Bette would be fabulous. If not her, then Patti LuPone would be awesome!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:42pm

Agreed, Horace is a thankless role, but I think Nathan could turn it into something special.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:43pm

I'll be very surprised if Lane thinks Horace Vandergelder is "the right opportunity", unless he does it just to work with Midler.

Lane played her husband in that fiasco 2000 Jacqueline Susann bio ISN'T SHE GREAT.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:53pm

No means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.

[NoName3]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:54pm

A lovely and informative article. Thanks for the link.

Years ago in another forum, someone said the essential quality of a great Dolly is that you can't ever decide whether you want to slap her or hug her. Midler could pull that off in spades.
Updated On: 7/11/13 at 08:54 PM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 9:19pm

Kinda rotten for Carol Channing to hear that Merman was Jerry Herman's favorite Dolly. Or was that always common knowledge?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 9:20pm

Carol went into the show knowing that Herman had written it for Merman.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 10:12pm

"She's too old. Dolly is supposed to be in her 40s, maybe early 50s."

Didn't Carol Channing play the role for 35 years?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:03pm

No means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.

Oh, pull it out your ass.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:30pm

Oh, pull it out your ass.

Well, as Dolly Levi says, "I put my hand in there!"

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:32pm

Didn't Channing play the role in her 70s. Midler looks middle aged when fully made up. She looked youthful in Ill Eat You Last.

[NoName3]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:24am

Or as Georges says, life is a celebration with you on my arm.

[NoName3]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:33am

Channing played the role (superbly) into her '80s. If you don't believe that, well, it just Depends.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:36am

That doesn't make sense.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:37am

I'd love to see Reba as Dolly, with Boyd Gaines as Horace.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:38am

Is there a South Yonkers?