Official Bernadette Peters in Hello, Dolly! performances thread — Page 10

EthelMae said: "Great to read all the opinions here on the new cast members, As much as I want to go back like NOW(!), I think I'll wait a bit for them to settle in. I have to say that Donna Murphy, who I loved in the show, went up several times in the many times I saw her. I always thought this was because of the only one performance a week schedule for most of her run (even though she did sub for vacation days for Midler.) It must be hard to play a Tuesday night and then not again until the following Tuesday. That's a big gap of time to stay consistent. But it never took away, for me, how great she was in the part.I would suspect this new castwill adjust quickly playing all 8 shows a week."

I always thought that the reason Donna went up in lines a lot is because she never connected with the character.  Hers was a performance.  Dolly wasn't there.  But I did enjoy herin the show regardless.  This is just my opinion.  Hopefully Bernadette finds her groove.  

Updated On: 1/22/18 at 02:30 PM

I never saw Carol Channing or Pearl Bailey but I have friends who did who said they sometimes went up in lines too and ad-libbed jokes when they went up on lines. Is it sort of a Dolly schtick? I'm asking because on the surface I wouldn't think it'd be that hard of a show to memorize.

Dolly is saddled with a lot of long, expository, and repetitive lines, so I'm not surprised the actresses have gone up on some.

qolbinau said: "Grosses just posted for the two weekend performances. Sold out with higher ticket averages than Murphy but a massive, massive drop from Bette - far less premium tickets being sold. If the show can sustain this there will be happy producers. Waiting for someone to misinterpret the 2 million drop going from 8 performances to 2 haha."

I hope you are right.  But you have to remember that most people that went this weekend just wanted to be there for her first shows.   But I think the show will manage. 

SmokeyLady said: "poisonivy2 said: "I never saw Carol Channing or Pearl Bailey but I have friends who did who said they sometimes went up in lines too and ad-libbed jokes when they went up on lines. Is it sort of a Dolly schtick? I'm asking because on the surface I wouldn't think it'd be that hard of a show to memorize."

I don't know about forgetting lines. But Pearl would often ad-lib. Especially during the Hello Dolly number. One of her regular ad-libs was to playfully berate the conductior for going fast. She would go thru the pasarelle and yell "Honey where is the fire? Slow it so I can breathe" .. things like that."

My favorite Pearl Bailey story comes from a tour stop in Norfolk Virginia (or thereabouts).   When they did the title number the lights on the stairs didn't come on.   After the song ended Pearl stopped the show and said we're going to do this number again and we are going to do it right.

According to Dollypop's other thread there was no dress rehearsal for BP in Dolly. I find that interesting and it is starting to make a little bit more sense. Personally I don't mind because it makes the performance feel even more special to me knowing that not even an invited audience had the privilege of seeing BP in the role before I did. 

It was so cute when Bernadette was getting the applause she broke the 4th wall a little. For example, on the entrance she started to point to her watch a lot. And after the title song it looked like she was looking at her colleagues in a "wow, this is amazing - but what do we do" kind of look. In fact, there was a lot more 4th wall breaking in Bernadette's performance than I remember with Bette. Bernadette certainly does not get 'lost in a character' the same way you might expect of another show. It is Bernadette Peters playing Bernadette Peters playing Dolly. 

SherrieByTheSea said: "Not surprised that Charlie is bowling people over. I'm crushed I had to give up my Feb 18th birthday tickets because of knee replacement but as soon as these knees are healed I'm going to be there cheering him on!

"

He is bowling people over?  I appreciate your enthusiasm...  but lets not get carried away.

We were at the matinee on Sunday and also saw Bette in the summer along with David Hyde Pierce. 

There was no comparison. I know Bernadette will get better with more practice. But Bette and David were a dream team together.  They made the show an A+++ together with Gavin and Kate... The grade I would have given Sunday's show would be a C.  (Gavin and Kate still an A+++++) If I was grading Victor it might be a D. 

I think with time they will get better.  But I now appreciate Bette and David even more!  

 

Hmm. I don’t know about that. Bernadette was on the Kelly Ripoa morning show weeks ago and she talked about how rehearsals were going then.

Updated On: 1/23/18 at 11:07 PM

But weren’t there pictures as early as last Tuesday on Instagram of the company rehearsing on stage?  I believe I saw links for them here somewhere.