Hello Dolly!
Sam S. Shubert Theatre
July 18, 2017
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| Photo courtesy of Hello Dolly! |
Before
you read on, I did not see Bette Midler in Hello Dolly! Donna Murphy performs on
Tuesday nights, and tickets are available at the TKTS booth. I wanted to see the production and the cast
of Tony winners and nominees, so I grabbed a ticket. And, oh yes, my life is definitely better for
it! This is a stellar production that
far exceeds any one name. The sets, the
choreography, the direction, the orchestrations, the voices, and the full cast
and chorus are incomparable. Donna
Murphy is spectacular. This is classic
musical theatre revived to perfection.
Matchmaker,
Dolly Levi (played by Donna Murphy), has her eyes set on marrying Yonkers
businessman Horace Vandergelder (played by David Hyde Pierce). He, however, is ready to propose to Irene Molloy
(played by Kate Baldwin). Dolly also plans
to get Horace to accept that his niece Ermengarde (played by Melanie Moore) is
going to marry struggling artist Ambrose Kemper (played by Will Bolton). Dolly has her hands full, so when Horace’s store
clerk, Cornelius (played by Gavin Creel), and his coworker, Barnaby (played by
Taylor Trensch), decide to play hooky from work and travel to New York City to
find adventure, she is able to get everything in motion to achieve her goals.
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| Beanie Feldstein, Taylor Trensch, Kate Baldwin, & Gavin Creel Photo courtesy of Hello Dolly! |
Donna
Murphy is joyous in the role of Dolly Levi.
Her voice is powerful and she makes the character her own. David Hyde Pierce is a curmudgeon you root
for. You know he has a heart under his
crusty exterior, and you rejoice when it is finally exposed. In the song “Penny in My Pocket” he makes the
most out of a momentary pause that give an insightful glimpse into his inner
world. Kate Baldwin creates an Irene Molloy
with zest and gumption. Her rendition of
“Ribbons Down My Back” is fun and touching, light and revealing. Gavin Creel’s Cornelius is innocent and
eager. The action of every one of his scenes is propelled forward by his energy.
Taylor Trensch and Beanie Feldstein are perfect together as Barnaby and
Minnie Fay. Their energy connects from
the first moment they are seen together, and their naiveté is splendid.
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| Photo courtesy of Hello Dolly! |
If
you need to remember how great life can be, go see Hello Dolly! It will
hopefully be playing at the Shubert Theatre, showcasing one big name star after
another, for years to come.
Domenick Danza
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