Hello, Dolly! Still Has It Thanks to Betty Buckley

The show is in good hands with the legendary Betty Buckley

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

We seem to be in an era of revivals, these days. Carousel, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma! and Hello, Dolly! Have been making waves on Broadway for a few years now. Of all these recent revivals, Hello, Dolly! is the first to make it to the Twin Cities - and it was actually worth the wait.

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

I've reviewed Hello, Dolly! before (most recently the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's fun production) and I was honestly feeling uninspired when I learned it was on this year's touring Broadway circuit. I once heard this show described as a dowager that doesn't age well, and I have often shared similar sentiments. Been there, done that... who cares?

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

So imagine my surprise, then, when I encountered a spunky, lively production that leans right into that dated material to enhance the comedic effect and find something deeper to say. Dolly Levi is still meddling in her matchmaking ways, holding people hostage and steering them towards her preferred endings; there are still sexist old white dudes and a host of highly gendered lyrics. But it's all delivered here with a wink and a smile, and the sheer joy this cast brings to their parts got the audience deeply engaged from the very beginning.

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

It doesn't hurt that Broadway legend Betty Buckley came out for this tour; a wise choice, considering Broadway attendees got to savor performances from Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters (the original cinematic Dolly was Barbra Streisand... what's up with all these B-named primadonnas starring in this show!). It was an immense pleasure to watch a theatrical legend swan around for a couple of hours, and Buckley clearly relishes every second. Her monologues were especially powerful, bringing real tears to her (and many audience members) eyes. She is deliciously foiled by Lewis Stadlen as the blustery Horace Vandergelder. Stadlen is a complete riot, a lethal stylistic blend of Nathan Lane, Tony Shalhoub and Burl Ives, and he's my favorite actor I've ever seen in that role. He had the audience roaring with laughter at the first note (not an easy feat, considering some of his solo lyrics), and watching he and Buckley spar through their scenes was an absolute delight. The rest of the cast has sunny smiles and strong singing voices, and they anchor the rest of the show so that Buckley and Stadlen can shine. It's a true group effort, and combined with Robert Billig's masterful conduction of the pit orchestra, musical lovers are sure to be delighted with the experience.

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

I found myself surprisingly engaged in the production design of this Hello, Dolly! as well. No expense was spared in the lavish sets, and this production served me all the Broadway glitz and glam that I found sorely lacking in the recent tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the same theater. We have trap doors! A working steam train! Three-D, watercolor painted scrims! Easter egg dyed costumes! Luscious velvet restaurant curtains! Absolute mountains of props! It's all the OG theater stuff I grew up entranced by, and hats off to the amazing production designers for executing a fully fleshed, over the top vision that was a true feast for the senses. The choreography by David Chase deserves a special call-out - dancers are absolutely flying around this stage in rickety 1900s-era heels with nary a care, and their fearless performance added to the showstopper scenes (especially that butler scene in the Harmonia Gardens restaurant - *how gorgina*, as Jonathan Van Ness would say).

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

All of this to say, if you've seen Hello, Dolly! before, I think this traveling production is still worth a stop this weekend. If you haven't seen it yet, then this is a must-visit. You'll get to see a Broadway legend at her most fabulous and vaunted, paired with a dreamy (and equally legendary) comedic partner. The production design and dancing are likely to dazzle even the most jaded theater goer and the musical performances are no slouch either. Tickets to shows like this tend to be pricey and you don't always know if they're worth the admission. I think this is a solid bet on bang for your buck, if you like that showy Broadway kind of thing. Definitely look into it by clicking here for more information and to get tickets.

Photo by Julieta Cervantes