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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"

Patti LuPone FANatic

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler "Dolly"#1
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

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #2
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.

Kad

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #2
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:48pm

Lane 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."

GavestonPS

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #3
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.

Kad

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #4
Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:59pm

I 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

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #5
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:31pm

She'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.

GavestonPS

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #6
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:33pm

She 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

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #7
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:34pm

Victor Garber

Gothampc

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #8
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.

Patti LuPone FANatic

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #9
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:41pm

She 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!

Stage Door Sally

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #10
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:42pm

Agreed, Horace is a thankless role, but I think Nathan could turn it into something special.

BrodyFosse123

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #11
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.

Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler

FindingNamo

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #12
Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:53pm

No means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.

Can you hear me now? Twitter: @NamoInExile

NoName3

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #13
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

HorseTears

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #14
Posted: 7/11/13 at 9:19pm

Kinda rotten for Carol Channing to hear that Merman was Jerry Herman's favorite Dolly. Or was that always common knowledge?

Gothampc

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #15
Posted: 7/11/13 at 9:20pm

Carol 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

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #16
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?

g.d.e.l.g.i.

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #17
Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:03pm

No means no, gentlemen. The woman said no.

Oh, pull it out your ass.

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #18
Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:30pm

Oh, pull it out your ass.

Well, as Dolly Levi says, "I put my hand in there!"

Bettyboy72

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #19
Posted: 7/11/13 at 11:32pm

Didn'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

NoName3

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #20
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:24am

Or as Georges says, life is a celebration with you on my arm.

NoName3

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Jerry Herman Would LOVE a Bette Midler #21
Posted: 7/12/13 at 12:33am

Channing played the role (superbly) into her '80s. If you don't believe that, well, it just Depends.