Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
#1Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/17/17 at 4:58pm
Anyone on the boards ever get to see her in the role (or maybe some footage)?
I'm ashamed to say I had no idea she ever played it and I find the idea fascinating.
She certainly had the brassy persona.
Would love to hear some stories.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#5Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/17/17 at 6:39pm
Only saw her in Nunsense
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#6Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/17/17 at 9:52pm
I saw her twice...she was only in the show for 3 1/2 months. Oddly enough, she was quite good. She gave a straightforward performance without any ad-lib's. Richard Deacon from "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was her Horace and they worked well together. They were both well-reviewed but played to lots of empty seats.
Ethel Merman followed them.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Updated On: 5/17/17 at 09:52 PM
Stage Door Sally
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
#7Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 12:12am
Read more about Phyllis and other Dollys here, this blog is a treasure trove of Dolly information.
http://www.callondolly.com/phyllis-diller/
RagtimeRay
Stand-by Joined: 5/16/03
#8Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 7:02am
Hello, Dolly! was my first Broadway show. I saw it a number of times during its original run (and on tour) and all of the original Broadway Dollys except for Phyllis Diller (I saw Channing and Ginger Rogers during their touring performances).
When I heard that the show was closing, I made one last pilgrimage to NYC to see the show (Merman) in early December of 1970. I chatted with the stage door man that day and was telling him about seeing all of the Broadway Dollys except for Phyllis Diller. His comment, "You didn't miss much."
Ray is the author of the Brad Frame mystery series, and two suspense novels. He is also the author of a one man play based on Ben Franklin. http://www.rayflynt.com
#9Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 1:31pm
@ Stage Door Sally - thanks for the site. That was fun. I have to say I would have loved to see Eve Arden in Dolly, as well as, Shirley Booth. So many different types have played her!
I wish I could see this production, but stuck on the West Coast. I hope they get someone fun to do the tour. (I'm sure with the success, a tour is inevitable - fingers crossed.)
#10Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 1:37pm
I DID see Eve Arden.
She just showed up; that's all.
#11Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 1:44pm
That's a shame. She has always been a favorite of mine. Thanks for the note. This kind of post is why I lurk around this board so much.
Cheers, all.
#12Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 1:49pm
In all fairness to her however, the critics loved her - so it could've been just one of those things. But I was just a kid, and wasn't impressed.
I DID also see Shirley Booth; with Gig Young in HARVEY.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#13Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 8:07pm
Eve Arden said in an interview that she hated doing DOLLY! Shecquickly tired of performing the same material 8x a week.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#14Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 8:18pm
Dollypop said: "Eve Arden said in an interview that she hated doing DOLLY! Shecquickly tired of performing the same material 8x a week.
"
She seems completely miscast to me. Wrong style of comedy.
carnzee
Broadway Star Joined: 9/2/11
#15Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 8:40pm
GavestonPS said: "Dollypop said: "Eve Arden said in an interview that she hated doing DOLLY! Shecquickly tired of performing the same material 8x a week.
"
She seems completely miscast to me. Wrong style of comedy.
Right? I love her, and Dolly! is obviously a vehicle for a variety of women, but I don't see her in this.
#16Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 8:45pm
Neither did I.
And the best she could do vocally was carry a tune. Channing was better.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#17Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 9:09pm
Have you seen Sally Struthers do the title number? It's on YouTube
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#18Phyllis Diller as DOLLY
Posted: 5/18/17 at 9:36pm
I came to New York just a bit too late to see the original production but I knew several people who saw Diller. They all said she played the part straight, as written, and was excellent.
ETA Thanks to BrodyFosse for the photos.
Updated On: 5/18/17 at 09:36 PM
