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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"

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#1

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"

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!
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

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

#2

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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.
#3

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

Lane has said he'll do a musical if the right opportunity comes along.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#4

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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.
#5

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

I doubt he would, too. Horace is very much a thankless role.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#6

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

She's too old. Dolly is supposed to be in her 40s, maybe early 50s.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#7

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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.
#9

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

"Victor Garber"

I don't think Broadway is ready for a male Dolly.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#10

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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!
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#11

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

Agreed, Horace is a thankless role, but I think Nathan could turn it into something special.
#12

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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.

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
#14

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

#15

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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?
#16

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

Carol went into the show knowing that Herman had written it for Merman.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#17

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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?
#18

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

No means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.

Oh, pull it out your ass.
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
#20

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#24

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

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

I'd love to see Reba as Dolly, with Boyd Gaines as Horace.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

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