HELLO DOLLY

Everyone loves a happy ending and there is certainly one in this show! This feel good musical Hello Dolly from Monmouth Music Theatre sent us out of the Savoy Theatre, the most perfect venue for this show, with the feeling that Andrea Pole as Mrs Dolly Levi could make even the hardest heart in the audience melt with romance, let alone Horace Vandergelder! A natural and beautiful performance of this famous character, she sashayed and danced her way around the stage with perfect interaction, singing vivaciously with a provocative comedy which had tremendous appeal. Dolly’s amazing Finale Ultimo in her golden gown with Mrs Molloy, Horace, Cornelius and Chorus was superb.

Graham Bryant played a brilliant Horace Vandergelder so effectively under played by this master of the stage of more than forty years, a fine achievement.

Scenes showing how incredulous he was at Dolly’s suggestions of matrimony were scene stealers. Cornelius Hakl (Adrian Bevan) and Barnaby Tucker (Reuben Jones) both played their comedy very well and an effective performance of Ermengarde from Hannah Pope, was well timed! Assisted by a great performance by Dan Follows (Ambrose Kemper) A charming Irene Molloy from Louise Miller who sang Ribbons Down My Back so sincerely and in contrast a spirited Minnie Fay from Jess Netherway.   

From beginning to end this was a superb production with plenty of life and pace to hold us in a grip, with good recreation of the era. A well rehearsed ensemble in excellent voice and harmonies, enhanced scenes with precision moves and well choreographed numbers from Choreographers Louise Millar/Jane Bryant showing to advantage the stunning costumes.

The Harmonia Gardens scene worked well with Ernestina (Liz Griffiths),Waiters well controlled by Rudi (Adrian Whitehead) 

Stage Directors Graham and Jane Bryant, all the team and company are to be congratulated on this production 

Credit to Musical Director Ian Russell and his fine orchestra and Accompanist Helen Stidolph who contributed to the success of MMT with their upbeat and well paced lively contribution to this score.

Full houses showed how popular this musical is with audiences, the atmosphere in the theatre said it all and the cast showed they enjoyed every minute on stage!

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