Hello Dolly

Rarely do you see a show where the curtain opens and the audience spontaneously break out into applause such was the spectacle of colour, bright smiling faces and ‘determined’ movement as cast entered beyond the traditional playing area onto a carefully designed catwalk surrounding the eight-piece band wonderfully controlled by Jill Jackson as MD.

Once the audience settled down into simply enjoying the ensemble and principal singing and acting before them they were enthralled to learn about ‘Dolly’ the over the top, confident Dolly Gallagher-Levi (Ann-Marie Clayton) whose main occupation was as a ‘match-maker’ as well as having business cards it seemed for every other speciality from dance teacher to attorney at law. Her speciality, as she sang about, was ‘meddling’ and she certainly knew how to manipulate the situation to suit her own ends. The widow had her sights set on ‘that well known Yonkers half millionaire’ Horace Vandergelder (Stuart Hall) who came across at first as cold, hard and more than a little misogynistic. The ongoing struggle between Stuart and Ann-Marie as she ‘persuaded him’ that he needed herself rather than any of her other introductions was a joy to see the process, and testament to both as good character actors. Horace’s niece whose entrances were all preceded by her copious bouts of crying was played by the versatile actress Bethany Hitchen with her lovely signing voice. Her love interest was penniless artist Ambrose Kemper (Rhys Sample) with who once again you saw the relationship blossom and strengthen throughout the production.

Vandergelder’s staff consisted of clerk Barnaby Tucker (Rhys Bye) and chief clerk Cornelius Hackyl (Liam Etherington). These two bounced off each other excellently and you could ‘see’ the pupil/mentor relationship. Both sang well in one of the best numbers in the show supported well by the ensemble with superb choreography – “Put on your Sunday Clothes”.

Dolly’s first introduction for Vandergelder was Mrs Irene Molloy (Wendy Hindmarch) on the lookout for a new husband since widowhood. A Milliner by trade she had a hat shop in New York with a young assistant as the flighty, bubbly and forever smiling Minnie Fay (Mads Loveys). As ‘Irene’ checks out her returned stock the audience were given insight into one of the finest renditions of “Ribbons Down My Back” I’ve heard sung so beautifully by Wendy.

A scene where the two clerks Barnaby and Cornelius, on an illicit day trip to New York to see the sights whilst their employer is away, hide in the hat shop to escape Vandergelder outside, was hilarious and reminiscent of a Brian Rix Farce as Irene, Minnie, Dolly, Vandergelder, Barnaby and Cornelius all seek to avoid each other in the rip roaring song, “Motherhood March”.

Dolly in one of her ‘scheme’s’ persuade the hat shop ladies to get the hay feed clerks to take them to dinner intimating that Cornelius is a secret millionaire and teaches them to dance together.

We saw the less confident side of Dolly at the end of Act 1 as Ann-Marie gave a heart-pulling rendition of “Before the Parade Passes By” as she waits for that ‘sign’ from her deceased husband to ‘release’ her.

Act 2 starts with my favourite number from the show “Elegance” performed beautifully with fine signing, choreography and wonderful facial expressions by Minnie, Barnaby, Irene and Cornelius. A joy to watch.

The Harmonia gardens restaurant with Maître D, Rudolph (with suitable Teutonic accent) was played by Daniel Riches as he implored his waiters to be especially fast in their service this evening as their long-time friend ‘Dolly’ was returning. The subsequent “Waiters Gallop” was indeed speedy, and the dancers were quite simply out of this world before (the highlight it seemed for the whole audience) Dolly’s entrance down the stairs in magnificent red ball gown and feathered headdress to the strains of the show’s titular song - Quite simply emotional.

Vandergelder meanwhile meets with Ernestina Money (Rachael Riches) – another of Dolly’s ‘failed’ introductions. Horace is horrified as she is without culture and wants to dance the hoochy koochie with him.
Another hilarious scene as all the principals come together over separate meals that Vandergelder can’t pay for due to losing his wallet in the chaos of his niece and her boyfriend winning the dance competition. This sees the whole cast before the magistrate and after Cornelius declares his love for Irene in the beautiful full ensemble number “It Only Takes a Moment”. It is left to Dolly to bail out Vandergelder who finally realises the woman he wants/needs is Dolly herself with Dolly getting her ‘sign’ at last.

This was a fast-paced show – well cast with some superb vocal renditions complemented by fine choreography and character roles. Can’t wait for your next one…

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