Hello Dolly

Hello, Dolly! (book by Michael Stewart and music & lyrics by Jerry Herman) first opened in New York City in January 1964 going on to win 10 Tony awards. It became one of Broadway's longest-running musicals, was made into a film and has remained a favourite with amateur companies for many years.

Musicals are a real challenge for any company calling as they do for large casts. Coupled with this they need good singers who can also act.  This makes big demands on a company so hats off (no pun intended) to HATS for taking up this challenge.

Hockwold Village Hall has more than its fair share of limitations but this doesn’t appear to bother this lovely friendly society one bit.  Even before the curtain goes up you have to admire the attention to detail given by those responsible for creating the front of house and technical set ups.  

One of the biggest challenges HATS have - or should I say one of the many? - is lack of wing space.  This fact is brought home throughout the show with exits and entrances which slow things up considerably.  This then has the knock-on effect of a lack of pace throughout the production.  

Having to build their stage and rig proscenium arch and curtains sometimes precludes the smooth running of tabs and swipe cloths but nothing much seems to phase the stage crew who carry out scene changes as swiftly as they can. 

I was much impressed with the costumes provided by the skill of The Sewing Circle ladies, particularly those of the leading lady which all appeared to fit her like a glove, plus the gorgeous hats.  The lighting design and operation too was extremely good which, together with the sound effects, added that little bit extra.

Jill Enefer played the title role and you always get what you expect from this artiste, an excellent performance coupled with a marvellous voice.  

Among the large cast, the second leads were admirably portrayed by Matthew Izzard as Cornelius Hackl and Zak McGarry as Barnaby Tucker in their roles as the hopeful-suitors.  These two worked well together: Mr Izzard especially has an excellent voice, the ballad; It Only Takes a Moment was extremely pleasant to listen to.  There was good support from among the smaller roles as well; although Mila Ottevanger as Minnie Fay needed to slow down the delivery of her dialogue and Sue Nairn as the widow Irene Molloy who, although she has a nice singing voice was at times difficult to hear when speaking particularly in the restaurant scene. Well-paired were Dominic Bunten (Ambrose Kemper) and Sue Perry (Ermengarde) the couple forbidden to marry by Ermengarde’s uncle Mr. Vandergelder played by Stephen Enefer.   

The chorus, though well-rehearsed and tuneful lacked volume. I fully appreciate the disadvantages of the venue and applaud long and loud the skill of pianists John Ramsbottom and Dianne Ogley-Richardson, but this show needed the support of some percussion: Put on Your Sunday Clothes was excellent as was When the Parade Passes By but it just needed the lift a percussion beat would have added.  

Well done to the waiters and waitresses in The Harmonia Gardens Restaurant scene where the famous title song Hello, Dolly! did not disappoint and was added to by the extra support from the audience. 

This show was no small undertaking for HATS.  I understand it has long been an ambition of director Sue Sander to do this show and well done to everyone who put in so much effort and enthusiasm to bring it to fruition.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.