Hello, Dolly!

Hello, Dolly! is based on Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker.  In turn of the century New York, Dolly Levi is a widowed matchmaker – she calls it meddling – who can not only find you a spouse but provides dancing lessons and all sorts of other sidelines. Dolly is employed by wealthy merchant Horace Vandergelder to find him a wife, but Dolly decides he would be just right for herself. She is also asked for help by struggling artist Ambrose Kemper, who wants to marry Horace’s niece, the always weeping Ermengarde, but Horace has forbidden the union. Horace sets off to the parade in New York to find a wife. Meanwhile his two shop assistants Cornelius and Barnaby decide that while the boss is away they would shut up shop and, with only a dollar between them, also head off to New York. Add into the mix milliner Irene, who hates hats and her assistant Minnie both of whom hitch up with the boys. Mayhem is bound to ensue when they find themselves in a very expensive restaurant.

The sets, although hired in, looked good and were mostly changed by cast members folding the flats in or out for scene changes. This worked mostly but right at the end for the curtain calls, whilst the cast were taking their bows, we had sight of back stage crew altering the set to reveal the staircase for Dolly to walk down for her bow, this did detract the eye a bit. Costumes good and authentic for the era but if I’m being picky, some of the hemlines were a bit short. Lighting and sound worked well. Musical direction by Robin Hare and his orchestra was excellent and not overpowering. Karen Heaslewood’s choreography was inspired and a joy to watch but I must say I was disappointed they had to use the girls dressed as waiters (with wigs) for Dolly’s entrance in the second act. Having said that the routine was good and energetic.

Lelia Di Domenico was a delight as Dolly with a fine singing voice and good comedic timing matched by James Kelch as the grumpy Horace Vandergelder. What fine performances from David Hynes and Matthew Westrope as Cornelius and Barnaby. Their farcical performance in the hat shop, I thought was a little bit overdone, but they were well matched with Cheryl Storer and Allya Khammari as the hat shop girls, Minni and Irene. There were strong performances from the supporting cast notably Elise Verney as Ermengarde, Becky Over as  Ernestine and Andrew Swann as the Maitre D’ Rudolph. What fun Susan Bowle and Rebecca Clow were as the Grand Dames. A large chorus provided good strong ensemble vocals and coped well with the demanding choreography. 

Director Helen Thorpe and her assistant Jane Morgan gave us another hugely enjoyable show by TWODS, long may it continue. Oh and does Dolly get her man – of course she does! 

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