HELLO, DONNA! - Murphy begins performances

[EthelMae]

Thx, Stage Door Sally!

Dame, you have my back!

[Stage Door Sally]

As Emily Litella would say, never mind.

[Dollypop]

I wish message boards existed in the 60's. Oh, the comparisons we'd have about who was the better Dolly: Carol Channing vs Ginger Rogers. Martha Raye vs Pearl Bailey. Betty Grable vs. Phyllis Diller.  It would have been wild!

[SmokeyLady]

Dollypop said: "I wish message boards existed in the 60's. Oh, the comparisons we'd have about who was the better Dolly: Carol Channing vs Ginger Rogers. Martha Rate vs Pearl Bailey. Betty Garble vs. Phyllis Diller.  It would have been wild!

 

"

Right on Dollypop.  

[Wick3]

Dollypop said: "I wish message boards existed in the 60's. Oh, the comparisons we'd have about who was the better Dolly: Carol Channing vs Ginger Rogers. Martha Raye vs Pearl Bailey. Betty Grable vs. Phyllis Diller.  It would have been wild!"

Agreed!!! BTW, was doing the stage door after the performance a common thing to do back in the 60s?

 

[Jarethan]

Stage Door Sally said: "EthelMae,

Jennifer Simard is so good, you might want to keep a watch on the orchestra for open seats and snag one at intermission. Depends how much of a risk taker you are.

 

I thought she was ATROCIOUS, the only bad thing in the whole show.  But I also admit that I hate Jackie Hoffman, although I thought she was excellent in Feud...because she didn't ham it up, and boy could she have.

 

[poisonivy2]

Yay! I'm taking my mom to see this Sunday. Now my mom doesn't really understand much dialogue but I think she'll be able to enjoy the show. I told her there was dancing and it was completely "clean." Hahaha.

[BrodyFosse123]

Agreed!!! BTW, was doing the stage door after the performance a common thing to do back in the 60s?

Yup, stage dooring has always existed, especially during the Golden Age of Broadway.  Especially at the hit shows and shows with major actors.  

I remember seeing a photo of the crowds outside the Majestic Theatre while Richard Burton was doing CAMELOT.  People hoping to catch a glimpse of him or even his movie star girlfriend Elizabeth Taylor who frequently visited him backstage.  

Then there were the hords waiting for Barbra Streisand BEFORE and AFTER her performances over at the Winter Garden Theatre during her 2 year run in FUNNY GIRL.  

[Dollypop]

There were no barricades at the stage doors in the 60's and some shows had much fewer crowds than others. I recall only about 6 people outside HIGH SPIRITS and Tammy Grimes walked all the way down the street chatting with me. 

I recall only about a dozen people waiting for Dustin Hoffman after JIMMY SHINE and he was very cordial to everyone.

I forget what show I saw Barry Nelson in but he invited me to join him for a drink afterwards and he didn't know me at all. I later learned that he just liked to drink...and drink.

Yes, there were mobs outside of FUNNY GIRL and smaller crowds outside of DOLLY but almost no one outside of FIDDLER.

[poisonivy2]

Well I did read that Rex Harrison acquired a reputation as being so rude to fans at the stage door that one time a woman actually smacked him and Stanley Holloway said "The fan has hit the ****!" 

[mpkie]

poisonivy2 said: "Yay! I'm taking my mom to see this Sunday. Now my mom doesn't really understand much dialogue but I think she'll be able to enjoy the show. I told her there was dancing and it was completely "clean." Hahaha.

"

Haha, I was just thinking about you and the other thread. Had literally been thinking, wish I had brought my mom tonight.

So good!! Love love loved it.

 

[CT2NYC]

After reading all the praise on here for Donna's performance, I was expecting something special, and she didn't disappoint. She and the rest of the cast had such a great synergy tonight, and it was a beautiful thing to see. However, what I didn't expect was such a responsive and exuberant audience. Even though there were quite a few empty seats in the mezzanine, the crowd was REALLY into it, and that made the experience even more special. It was a magical night.

[EthelMae]

First, Dame, whoever you are, you were spot on about what I would miss and what new perspectives I would have from Box D Right tonight!

I would recommend these partial view seats at $47. I think it's the cheapest way to go for this show. While it's true you miss a couple of things, you are very close to the stage so when the passarele is used you can almost reach out and touch the actors. Especially if you've seen the show before from full view, these tickets are a "cheap" way to see it again. I normally don't like the Boxes, but tonight they were kind of a relief being away from noisy, phone using audience members. I was alone in the Box, except for one other person who was seeing his first Broadway show tonight! I should say I don't know if all these partial view seat locations are located in the Boxes. 

I missed David Hyde Pierce two weeks ago when I saw Bette. So glad I saw him tonight. He is very special, I think, in this role. Not just your usual grumpy  Horace. So funny and full of surprises. 

Donna Murphy proved wonderful as has been said here. She's a spitfire. Funny, moving, full command of the role. And her voice is strong and assured. For some reason she looked a little and reminded me of Molly Picon! I bet she had little rehearsal put-in time so the performance was even more impressive. It felt like I was watching the play The Matchmaker with songs. She felt very at one with the company. I will go back to see her.

The rest of the cast is still wonderful and the production still brings tears to my eyes. 

[DAME]

EthelMae said: "First, Dame, whoever you are, you were spot on about what I would miss and what new perspectives I would have from Box D Right tonight!

I would recommend these partial view seats at $47. I think it's the cheapest way to go for this show. While it's true you miss a couple of things, you are very close to the stage so when the passarele is used you can almost reach out and touch the actors. Especially if you've seen the show before from full view, these tickets are a "cheap" way to see it again. I normally don't like the Boxes, but tonight they were kind of a relief being away from noisy, phone using audience members. I was alone in the Box, except for one other person who was seeing his first Broadway show tonight! I should say I don't know if all these partial view seat locations are located in the Boxes. 

I missed David Hyde Pierce two weeks ago when I saw Bette. So glad I saw him tonight. He is very special, I think, in this role. Not just your usual grumpy  Horace. So funny and full of surprises. 

Donna Murphy proved wonderful as has been said here. She's a spitfire. Funny, moving, full command of the role. And her voice is strong and assured. For some reason she looked a little and reminded me of Molly Picon! I bet she had little rehearsal put-in time so the performance was even more impressive. It felt like I was watching the play The Matchmaker with songs. She felt very at one with the company. I will go back to see her.

The rest of the cast is still wonderful and the production still brings tears to my eyes. 

 

"

Ethel,

 I am so glad you enjoyed.  Let me tell you a little secret about those box seats.  For Bette's performances they were not sold as partial view in April.  Those are about $200.00 a piece.. and apparently they are sold out for the run.  Those seats were not made available to the public in advance till previews began.  There are 16 box seats.  8 at each side.  It was my hope that they would have been designated as lottery or student rush seats.  But the producers greed is apparently  strong.    But what a neat view from those seats huh?  I loved the view of the Passarelle and being away from everyone else.  Did you glance at the audience at any point?  The amount of cell phone usage and taping is overwhelming.  But how cool to be away from it.    Also.. at a few moments you could see Gavin getting ready for entrances.  I love that kind of stuff. 

[CT2NYC]

I was at the show last night, and the audience was one of the best-behaved I've seen in a while, at least in the mezzanine. I didn't have high hopes when, before the show started,  I could hear a crazy person downstairs screaming something like "We want Bette!" Aside from that, the crowd seemed like they really WANTED to be there, and the frequent extended applause was evidence of this. I think last night's response to "The Waiters' Gallop" was the most enthusiastic out of the 3 times I've seen the show. The only disruption was a strange mechanical noise at the beginning of "Motherhood." I couldn't tell if it was something with the sound system or the air conditioning, or something else entirely. In any event, it was brief. Honestly, for some reason, I was expecting a rambunctious audience, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The energy in the theatre was great.

[Auggie27]

I met Dorothy Collins, and talked extensively to Fifi D'Orsay at the stage door of FOLLIES, back in day. Collins just walked out.

[DAME]

CT2NYC said: "I was at the show last night, and the audience was one of the best-behaved I've seen in a while, at least in the mezzanine. I didn't have high hopes when, before the show started,  I could hear a crazy person downstairs screaming something like "We want Bette!" Aside from that, the crowd seemed like they really WANTED to be there, and the frequent extended applause was evidence of this. I think last night's response to "The Waiters' Gallop" was the most enthusiastic out of the 3 times I've seen the show. The only disruption was a strange mechanical noise at the beginning of "Motherhood." I couldn't tell if it was something with the sound system or the air conditioning, or something else entirely. In any event, it was brief. Honestly, for some reason, I was expecting a rambunctious audience, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The energy in the theatre was great.

 

"

I read someone else commenting on that drunk woman yelling on instagram. And someone else wrote that they had two annoying guys behind them hooting, whooping,  and over cheering everything in a very loud obnoxious way .   

[CT2NYC]

DAME said: "CT2NYC said: "I was at the show last night, and the audience was one of the best-behaved I've seen in a while, at least in the mezzanine. I didn't have high hopes when, before the show started,  I could hear a crazy person downstairs screaming something like "We want Bette!" Aside from that, the crowd seemed like they really WANTED to be there, and the frequent extended applause was evidence of this. I think last night's response to "The Waiters' Gallop" was the most enthusiastic out of the 3 times I've seen the show. The only disruption was a strange mechanical noise at the beginning of "Motherhood." I couldn't tell if it was something with the sound system or the air conditioning, or something else entirely. In any event, it was brief. Honestly, for some reason, I was expecting a rambunctious audience, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The energy in the theatre was great.

 

"

I read someone else commenting on that drunk woman yelling on instagram. And someone else wrote that they had two annoying guys behind them hooting, whooping,  and over cheering everything in a very loud obnoxious way .   

Well, thankfully, I wasn't anywhere near those guys. That could've ruined it for me.

 

[DAME]

CT2NYC said: "DAME said: "CT2NYC said: "I was at the show last night, and the audience was one of the best-behaved I've seen in a while, at least in the mezzanine. I didn't have high hopes when, before the show started,  I could hear a crazy person downstairs screaming something like "We want Bette!" Aside from that, the crowd seemed like they really WANTED to be there, and the frequent extended applause was evidence of this. I think last night's response to "The Waiters' Gallop" was the most enthusiastic out of the 3 times I've seen the show. The only disruption was a strange mechanical noise at the beginning of "Motherhood." I couldn't tell if it was something with the sound system or the air conditioning, or something else entirely. In any event, it was brief. Honestly, for some reason, I was expecting a rambunctious audience, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The energy in the theatre was great.

 

"

I read someone else commenting on that drunk woman yelling on instagram. And someone else wrote that they had two annoying guys behind them hooting, whooping,  and over cheering everything in a very loud obnoxious way .   

Well, thankfully, I wasn't anywhere near those guys. That could've ruined it for me.

 

 

"

As long as it wasn't you CT.  Because your very cute in that picture.  And you love Hello Dolly which makes me swoon even more.  If it was you it would kill the whole fantasy for me.    All kidding aside; I enjoy reading your thoughts.  

[CT2NYC]

Gee, thanks DAME, you're making me blush! Honestly, though, I'm the guy who prefers going to shows by myself, because I don't even want the distraction of a friend sitting next to me. When I'm alone, it's my most pure experience, so I'm extremely sensitive to people who aren't behaving.

[KathyNYC2]

I'm here for the matinee. Reasonably crowded but I got my tic at TKTS less than a half hour ago. 10 row orchestra center $91. Can't beat that. Excited. 

[DottieD'Luscia]

CT2NYC, I was in the mezzanine as well last night. I thought the audience was wonderful, too. 

I saw the matinee of Bandstand today, and all the while I was wishing I was at Hello Dolly instead. 

[CT2NYC]

DottieD'Luscia said: "CT2NYC, I was in the mezzanine as well last night. I thought the audience was wonderful, too. 

I saw the matinee of Bandstand today, and all the while I was wishing I was at Hello Dolly instead. 

That's awesome, I'm glad you had a great experience, too. I felt a lot of love and appreciation in the room for the entire company. Before the show, I heard some people grumbling about being disappointed that Bette was out, but, by the intermission, I'm fairly certain that no one was feeling like Donna Murphy was a consolation prize. Her Dolly was captivating, and she owned the stage.

 

[Marianne2]

Thanks for the info on the box seats. I definitely will consider them if I go see the show again. I really want to.

I'm curious to see what the grosses for this week will be like. I'm totally aware of the discounts, so I am expecting them to not be as fantastic.  But, maybe if they are good enough,  Donna could take over full time when Bette leaves. 

[nsguy45]

Didn't Jerry Herman once say that Betty Grable was the most disappointing of all the Dolly replacements? 

[scampsweep]

This may have been discussed earlier, but does Donna Murphy sing the score in the same low keys as Bette or has the score been transposed higher? Just interested.