Hello Dolly

Last year Bilston Operatic Company delighted audiences with the Midlands premiere of "A Christmas Carol". This year they decided to move into the 19th/20th century and offer the Jerry Herman classic "Hello Dolly" Everyone knows Dolly Levi - she arranges things!. The interpretation of Dolly by Maggie Page presented an entirely different Dolly from the one audiences usually get. She was a complex mix of Carol Channing, Ethel Merman and Barbra Streisand. Experienced performer Greg Yates (Horace) held on tightly to the purse strings until he decided that, with Dolly's help, he "would spread his money around encouraging young things to grow" The young things in question were: Simon Magee (Cornelius), Stephen Yeomans (Barnaby), Dan Smith (Ambrose), and Emily Harford (Emengarde). If you add Sue Towler (Mrs Molloy), Emily Bennett (Minnie Fay) and Dolly you will see that he had his hands full!! The hat shop scene was enhanced by beautiful dancing and the most intriguing patterns of ribbon from Gemma Finch. New producer Jon Dempsey, his wife Choreographer Gemma and Musical Director Paul Halford reminded the audience of the old fashioned story and the lovely music of Jerry Herman.

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