Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Up In One
Broadway Star Joined: 5/27/04
#1Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:04pm
Call me crazy but I really thought a Bette lead Dolly would be the perfect vehicle for a magnificent multicultural non-traditionally casted production. The casting and creative crew put together for this feels like we're in for a traditional revival. Much like when I was growing up and shows like No, No Nanette and Irene came to town. Is it safe producing or a show that can't bare the weight of some rethinking? I did see Ethel Merman in it as part of my first exposure to theater and then saw Carol in two revivals so I guess I've been Dollied out by the images of the original production. I just hope they aren't treating it as sacrosanctly as my instincts are telling me.
Up In One
#2Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:05pm
It's a solidly but very safely cast production. I'd had similar hopes as you.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:15pm
In terms of the leads, I'd say I'm very satisfied. The ensemble is mostly Broadway vets; a solid mix of older & younger actors.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#4Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:15pm
Everyone who was cast are all perfect and are also very talented, but I agree there should have been some more diverse cast. I wonder if that question was brought up when they were casting the show.
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#5Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:25pm
It sounds like the alternate is most likely an African American performer, and that would be fantastic!
Up In One
Broadway Star Joined: 5/27/04
#7Bette's Dolly Cast Is Just Great
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:29pm
Alternate as in stand by/understudy or is Bette not doing all 8 perfs per week?
Up In One
jimmycurry01
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
#8Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 8:30pm
I wouldn't say it is uninspired, but I do agree that it would have been nice to see a bit more diversity.
#9Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 9:06pm
It is assumed that an alternate will perform all Tuesday evening performances.
#10Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 9:08pm
Up In One said: "Alternate as in stand by/understudy or is Bette not doing all 8 perfs per week?"
They're only selling 7 shows a week right now, so it could be that they're holding back that one until they announce who it is.
An alternate is not an understudy. They usually are standbys, though.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#12Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 10:51pm
It's Hello Dolly, not Hello Delores.
(just kidding).
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 9/18/16 at 10:51 PM
#13Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 10:53pm
qolbinau said: "It's Hello Dolly, not Hello Delores.
(just kidding). "
???
...I'm not even sure what you were attempting here.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#14Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 11:04pm
LizzieCurry said: "...I'm not even sure what you were attempting here."
maybe that's some of that Australian "humor"
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#15Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 11:26pm
qolbinau said: "It's Hello Dolly, not Hello Delores.
(just kidding).
"
I giggled.
But anywho - want to talk about uninspired? Have you seen the television commercial they've got running for this yet? It's lame.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#16Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 11:31pm
I saw a Facebook ad that was literally just a black screen with flashing red letters that said something along the lines of "Bette Midler. Hello, Dolly. Need we say more? And, oh yeah, Telecharge.com." Is that what you're talking about, Greased? Thought it was terribly lame and pretentious.
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#17Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/18/16 at 11:58pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "I saw a Facebook ad that was literally just a black screen with flashing red letters that said something along the lines of "Bette Midler. Hello, Dolly. Need we say more? And, oh yeah, Telecharge.com." Is that what you're talking about, Greased? Thought it was terribly lame and pretentious.
"
Yes! They played it at least once per commercial break during the Emmys tonight. I rolled my eyes every time it came on.
#18Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/19/16 at 12:00am
GreasedLightning said: "Yes! They played it at least once per commercial break during the Emmys tonight. I rolled my eyes every time it came on."
I streamed the Emmys and they didn't show it on there... and I'm like 90min out of NYC now, so I should be in the zone they are targeting, you'd think (although given the number of my new co-workers who say they hope to see a Broadway show someday, maybe the producers know what they're doing!)...
broadwayguy91
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
#19Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/19/16 at 12:05am
qolbinau said: "It's Hello Dolly, not Hello Delores.
(just kidding).
"
#20Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/19/16 at 12:52am
A multi-ethnic cast would have been lovely, and the OBC production did do the all-black replacement cast, but I didn't expect anything more than "safe" with the casting of this revival.
Just think, it's a show that had its leading lady return decade after decade over and over
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#21Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/19/16 at 1:21am
It feels like me like another She Loves Me situation- everyone they cast is appropriate and I can't begrudge them that, but a little more diversity wouldn't have killed 'em either. At least there are a few people of color in the ensemble, which is better than some musicals can say.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
DeRubaJ
Chorus Member Joined: 9/17/16
brian1973
Leading Actor Joined: 2/1/14
#24Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/19/16 at 5:58am
So who would you cast instead? Audra I assume.
Boring.
This part needs a star, and a star is what they've got. Midlers casting is perfect. I can't think of any musical in recent memory that has been led by such a starry name.. It feel like it harks back to the golden age of Broadway when big names headlined musicals.
rjm516
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
#25Bette's Dolly Cast Uninspired?
Posted: 9/19/16 at 6:08am
Totally. Everyone they cast is amazing, but of all productions this should have been one to take some chances with bending the rules of traditional casting and stuff. Producers always blame playing it safe on the fact that it's so hard to have a successful show, so they don't want to risk making any missteps or alienating audiences when it could mean their show fails. But this show cannot fail and is going to sell out, so why not push it a little! And seriously, having a few featured characters that aren't white/cis/ablebodied/whatever straight laced thing is going on is not exactly pushing boundaries!
