Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"
Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"
#1Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:28pm
Interesting 2 page article about the Goodspeed "Hello Dolly" and Jerry Herman's preference for the role of "Dolly."
Hello Dolly!
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Updated On: 7/11/13 at 07:28 PM
Stage Door Sally
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
#2Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:41pm
I think she'd make a fun and sassy Dolly. Would love to see it!
Now who would make a good Horace for her? My first thought was Nathan Lane, he'd match Bette on the fun factor. But I read on BWW he is no longer doing musicals. Terrence Mann is a little young, but he can probably play older. Maybe Gary Beach. I love him and he has played Horace before.
#2Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:48pmLane has said he'll do a musical if the right opportunity comes along.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#3Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:56pm^^^^ I'll be very surprised if Lane thinks Horace Vandergelder is "the right opportunity", unless he does it just to work with Midler.
#4Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:59pmI doubt he would, too. Horace is very much a thankless role.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#5Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:31pmShe's too old. Dolly is supposed to be in her 40s, maybe early 50s.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#6Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:33pmShe looked great in the HBO film of her Vegas show; I could believe her as a middle-aged Dolly. But if she herself says she is too old to carry a vehicle-type show 8 times per week, we should probably take her at her word.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#8Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:40pm
"Victor Garber"
I don't think Broadway is ready for a male Dolly.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#9Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:41pmShe could do 6 shows a week, while another person could cover the matinees. Bette would be fabulous. If not her, then Patti LuPone would be awesome!
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Stage Door Sally
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
#10Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:42pmAgreed, Horace is a thankless role, but I think Nathan could turn it into something special.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#11Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:43pm
I'll be very surprised if Lane thinks Horace Vandergelder is "the right opportunity", unless he does it just to work with Midler.
Lane played her husband in that fiasco 2000 Jacqueline Susann bio ISN'T SHE GREAT.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#12Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:53pmNo means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#13Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:54pm
A lovely and informative article. Thanks for the link.
Years ago in another forum, someone said the essential quality of a great Dolly is that you can't ever decide whether you want to slap her or hug her. Midler could pull that off in spades.
Updated On: 7/11/13 at 08:54 PM
#14Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 9:19pmKinda rotten for Carol Channing to hear that Merman was Jerry Herman's favorite Dolly. Or was that always common knowledge?
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#15Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 9:20pmCarol went into the show knowing that Herman had written it for Merman.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
NYC4Life
Broadway Star Joined: 1/23/06
#16Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 10:12pm
"She's too old. Dolly is supposed to be in her 40s, maybe early 50s."
Didn't Carol Channing play the role for 35 years?
#17Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:03pm
No means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.
Oh, pull it out your ass.
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky
#18Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:30pm
Oh, pull it out your ass.
Well, as Dolly Levi says, "I put my hand in there!"
#19Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:32pmDidn't Channing play the role in her 70s. Midler looks middle aged when fully made up. She looked youthful in Ill Eat You Last.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#20Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:24amOr as Georges says, life is a celebration with you on my arm.
#21Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:33amChanning played the role (superbly) into her '80s. If you don't believe that, well, it just Depends.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#22Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:36amThat doesn't make sense.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#23Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:37amI'd love to see Reba as Dolly, with Boyd Gaines as Horace.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#24Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:38amIs there a South Yonkers?
Twitter @NamoInExile
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