RIEDEL: Chenoweth as Dolly- Page 2

[all that jazz]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:32am

As long as she belts the role, she'll be amazing. I really don't wanna see an operatic Dolly.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:35am

Based on that statement, I'm gonna take a wild guess that you don't know this show at all.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:37am

With so many wonderful performers who are age appropriate for this role, it's a shame they had to go young (ish). Why not Victoria Clark? Jan Maxwell? Judy Kaye? And, yes, Patti.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:41am

LH, was that comment directed at me? If so would you care to elaborate?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:41am

^What he said, but I'd also like to add Beth Leavel and Klea Blackhurst.

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:47am

I wonder if this will have the original staging? Apparently that's why Patti isn't interested.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:52am

Hell, bring Imelda Staunton over the pond to do it!

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:56am

Remember her last televised concert, where she sang "Before the Parade Passes By" and thanked Jerry Herman for Zaza, and Mame and Mable and Dolly GALLAGHER Levi, making it clear the Dolly is NOT Jewish, inferring that she herself wanted a stab at the role?

She could be so different and brilliant!!

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 10:58am

best12 - I totally agree with you. Chenoweth as Minnie Fay but not as Dolly!

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:00am

Tommy Tune for Horace!!!

[AnythingGoes23]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:09am

With Dolly! coming back its probably not so much age that concerning them primarily, its the name. For Hello, Dolly! to come back in a big production and be a big seller it needs a name to carry the show. Victoria Clark, Christine Ebersole perhaps even Patti could do it standing on their head but they won't draw the big crowds. Maybe as replacements down the line, but initially I think they want a name, but the good thing is they want a name who can actually still perform the role well...

[brldisteach2]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:10am

I think Kristin Chenoweth is an amazing performer, and I'll be interested in seeing what she does with the role. She has more range than just playing "sweet girlish" characters.

[Brick]

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

I agree it's also strange that ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY isn't happening first, given how often it's been postponed.

Reidel mentions it, but makes it sound like it will happen after, which seems even more unlikely. I imagine her contract for DOLLY would be at least a year, after which we'd probably lose her to LA for another 3-5 years. Bummer, too, because Lily Garland is a role she was born to play!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:39am

Hopefully this won't be another repeat of Promises, Promises where her supporting costar outshines her by miles (a la Katie Finneran as Marge MacDougall.)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:50am

While discussing age, remember that Dolly is supposed to be late 40s - early 50s. We just settled for her being old because Carol Channing played her so many times. I would really like to see an actress who can play the role, not just belt it to the rafters. I don't think that Patti LuPone is the right choice because there's no subtlety in her performances.

I think the only choice is Megan Mullally.

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:09pm

Only issue with the phenomenally talent Ms. Chenoweth playing this role is the speaking voice. I wouldn't want her to pitch the voice lower because that causes unnecessary strain, but I have such a difficult time imagining Dolly's glorious wordplay and monologues tripping naturally off Chenoweth's tongue. She would be a wonderful Irene Molloy, but she(Chenoweth) is frankly too big of a star for a supporting role. I would like to see her in 20th Century and Dolly played by someone with a bit more of an earth mother quality.

The first name that comes to mind is Joanna Gleason, although she wouldn't sell many tickets. I'd love to see her in the red wig and edwardian costumes - plus, we know she'd play the hell out of it!

Updated On: 8/7/13 at 12:09 PM

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

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:23pm

Alright, listen, Bette Midler, how much money do we have to offer you to prevent this happening? I don't care if it's a reduced schedule of four performances a week with insanely high-priced tickets. I will chip in however much I have to chip in if it means that someone who is so wrong for the part does not take this role.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:24pm

I remember that I forgot she sang "Before the Parade Passes By" in her PBS concert.

That's how much it registered.

[D2]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:56pm

Change the date to 2009, replace all references to Cheno with Zeta Jones and change HELLO, DOLLY! to A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, and what do you get?

This thread.

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:03pm

Well, I find Chenoweth fairly annoying in just about everything, and I imagine she will be about the same as Dolly. I don't like her but I can think if roles she would be worse in. Still, not planning on seeing this one.

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:17pm

I once thought Chen somewhat one note (though quite a talented one note) until "The Apple Tree". Her Eve broke my heart.

To those who think she would be miscast (I am not one of them) she did overcame miscasting in the TV "Music Man", (however, agreed she did not in "Promises, Promises").

[brettarnett]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:28pm

Why can't this damn revival of On The Twentieth Century get off the ground?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:31pm

I've nothing against Cheno (well, Promises was pretty awful) but this just seems like a misfire.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:36pm

She is much, much better suited to On the Twentieth Century than Dolly.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:38pm

Amen! I cannot imagine her as Dolly.