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Post by singularsensation10 on Jun 10, 2017 3:10:05 GMT
Just in from seeing the show.. not even sure what just happened in there. Something other worldly. I think the only plausible explanation is that Bette Midler wasn't acting in Hocus Pocus and genuinely sucks the life out of children because she was radiant up there. A beacon of life, charisma, buoyancy and elegance. Boys and girls, THIS is how you work an audience.
Words cannot describe Bette's performance so I will move on - the set, the costumes, the choreography, the orchestration & orchestra, the ensemble... unbelievably perfect. Impeccable. Gavin Creel deserves that tony and if he doesn't get it I'll eat my hat. This show deserves all the Tony's. This show needs to be preserved for eternity. Absolutely, undeniably flawless.
Kate Baldwin has the most luxurious voice, like butter melting slowly on a hot summers afternoon.... Trensch and Creel work together like a modern day Laurel and Hardy... each and every performer is graceful and appropriate to the style and setting of the show.
I'll be honest I didn't love much of the score but this collective could sing the phone book as part of this production and it would still be fantastic. Absolutely unbelievable. Perfection.
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Post by ali973 on Jun 10, 2017 3:43:20 GMT
TBH I thought Midler was just icing in the cake. I thought the entire production in terms of direction, the look of it, the sound, the costumes, the glorious orchestra was outstanding. Yes, She's spectacular and cute and funny- but I thoroughly enjoyed the non-Dolly scenes too.
Gavin Creel is fine. But I think anyone replacing or understudying could be just as good. And yes, Baldwin's voice is glorious, but I'm disappointed that Jennifer Simard got no Tony love. I thought that the comedy in the show belonged to her and Midler.
Special mention needs to go to the insanely talented male dancers. God bless these legs and what they do with them in Act II at the restaurant.
I'd be curious to see it with Donna Murphy.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Jun 10, 2017 11:10:08 GMT
I didn't get why the audience went so crazy for the dancing waiters??
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Post by ali973 on Jun 10, 2017 17:48:29 GMT
Because these boys werked IT.
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Post by callum on Jun 11, 2017 1:48:33 GMT
Someone else who was at Friday's performance - Bette was just radiant. This woman has it all, one of the best and most versatile performers I've ever seen, accompanying a terrific production. I couldn't really follow the plot (it was totally all over the shop) but everything else was disposable to Bette. I can't emphasise enough just how much she had the audience eating from the palm of her hand, the reaction to her first appearance on stage was wilder than the Beyonce concert I was at last year (a near standing ovation from the balcony where I was sitting)! Her voice has aged but definitely hasn't worsened, just a lovelier richness to it. But oh God, she is the real deal.
MAYBE this could work as a limited engagement at the Palladium, this is EVENT theatre, and was completely overwhelming. After seeing the show itself, the soundtrack doesn't now seem that bad. More of an accompaniment to the production, rather than something that can replace seeing it live.
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Post by showbizkid on Jun 11, 2017 22:59:44 GMT
This will never ever ever happen in London. Bette is on 150 thousand a week and ten percent of the box office and merchandise. The reason why the maths work is that tickets cost so much more than the 30/70 pounds we are used to in the UK (premiums aside). Yes it's an EVENT but is one just in the Big Apple!
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Post by callum on Jun 12, 2017 20:39:08 GMT
I don't see why it couldn't work at the Dominion, Palladium, Drury Lane or Coliseum at Opera / Book of Mormon peak prices. London has demonstrated there are enough people willing to pay a £249 top price, and I'd say our merchandising in the theatre is far more developed than Broadway, as we have more foyer space. Wouldn't totally write it off - though I admit it is unlikely anyway. Actually I did have the Coliseum in mind but wondered if they'd only stretch to another 'semi-staged' production. That wouldn't fit Bette or this production, it is pure Broadway bawdy opulent razzmatazz. She's doing quite a long run too, up until January next year. Probably over a year's worth of work for her. Don't know how much appetite she'd have to do it again, especially as I can imagine the producers will be coughing up for a big name replacement for her, meaning the team for this production will be in New York for some time. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2017 21:54:49 GMT
I do wonder if the rumours of Dolly Parton taking over will be true. Because its gonna be really tough to replace Bette, and Dolly is fantastic!
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Post by madsonmelo on Jun 13, 2017 3:22:28 GMT
It's 180 thousand a week
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Post by ali973 on Jun 13, 2017 9:32:48 GMT
Donna Murphy's Dolly starts tonight. I'd love to see her in it. Her Ephraim monologue will be beautiful I'm sure.
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Post by ali973 on Jun 13, 2017 10:15:27 GMT
I doubt it will happen. It took Scott Rudin years to convince Midler to do it. On Broadway she is treated like royalty. I suppose the British audience could be warm if they want to, they were very good and fully embraced Glenn Close. But I doubt Midler has it in her to to this beyond her current engagement. I also feel that Hello, Dolly means a lot more in America than it does in London/UK and is part of the American folklore, if you will. Sunset Blvd is a loved show in London, but I'm not sure Dolly means anything there.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2017 22:50:59 GMT
If Bette ever came over with Hello Dolly I would literally sell my body to get a ticket.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2017 22:53:44 GMT
I'd only go if they promised to cut the number they performed on the Tonys.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2017 22:54:41 GMT
I'd only go if they promised to cut the number they performed on the Tonys. ... that too.  |
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Post by ali973 on Jun 14, 2017 4:06:52 GMT
It was easily the most boring part of the evening. I think they put it there so that people would settle back in their seats.
Meanwhile..where the heck are my Donna Murphy Dolly press photos? I need them if I were to survive today at work.
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Post by 49thand8th on Jun 14, 2017 14:35:50 GMT
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 14, 2017 15:21:48 GMT
An eye witness report!!
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Post by ali973 on Jun 14, 2017 16:10:21 GMT
My friend sent me this as well. I need a press photo with the red dress IN a pose. #demanding
On another note, apparently Ebersole was out of War Paint last night. Too much champagne at the Tony party!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 13:23:31 GMT
So Long Dearie! Catch The Divine Miss M as Dolly Gallagher Levi while you can until January 14th, 2018 as she's leaving then. I myself, am heading to New York and going to see it next week.
Bette Midler, Gavin Creel, hot dancing waiters, Jerry Herman, THAT song. Remember this face because . .
I. Might. Just. Die.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2017 11:53:06 GMT
Well. I almost died.
And rather like they say in 'Doctor Dolittle', I've never seen anything like it in my life.
It's unashamedly old fashioned but I don't care. It's quite simply one of the best things I have EVER seen. I love the show (and the movie) anyway but this production will go down in history for one reason. Bette Midler.
The role of Dolly is perfect for her. She's brassy, blousy, warm, hilarious and completely sentimental and she gets some of the greatest songs on Broadway. Every number, every line, every look and glance is just perfect. She gets entrance applause that goes on for days and the reception to every number is like an earthquake, I've literally never heard reactions like it during a show. Of course, the biggest applause is saved for the title number and it's well deserved. The waiters (all amazing) start things off brilliantly with The Waiters' Gallop but everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for the moment that the curtain comes back and she appears at the top of the stairs in her red dress for the title number. The final "well, well, Helloooooo Dolly, well Helloooooo Dolly" gave me shivers and of course there was a standing ovation after the song. For all the vaudeville bluff and bluster she does so brilliantly, some of her strongest moments come during the more touching moments of the show (and there are many) where she's at her most sentimental. It's very much a Bette Midler role, perfectly tailored to her many strengths but never was a Tony more deserved.
It's a testament to the rest of the cast that they aren't completely overshadowed by La Midler (and to her credit she is completely graceful by giving them all their moments in the sun), David Hyde Pierce is suitably grouchy as Horace but the four younger leads are sensational - Gavin Creel has got to be one of the best singers on Broadway, his voice is an absolute delight and it's great to see him be really goofy and loveable, Kate Baldwin is wonderful despite being saddled with a wig that makes her look about 10 years older and Beanie Feldstein and Taylor Trensch are delightful as Minnie and Barnaby, Trensch in particular is fabulous. Special mention also to Jennifer Simard who milks her role as Ernestina Money for all its worth.
Can you guess that I loved it?
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 14, 2017 12:09:34 GMT
That's all very interesting, @ryan, but did you enjoy it?
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Post by theatremadness on Sept 4, 2017 18:40:31 GMT
Just gonna leave this here....
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Post by Mark on Sept 4, 2017 18:43:13 GMT
Yes please!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 21:35:11 GMT
Can you even imagine, it will be great! A Cinderella reunion for the two of them as well!  |
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Post by ali973 on Sept 5, 2017 6:58:18 GMT
meh..I can't say that I like either of them. Bernadette might be okay live (I guess?) but I normally struggle to listen to her on recordings. I do enjoy her Sondheim, Sondheim, Sondheim concert recording though.
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