Betty Buckley "DOLLY" opening in Cleveland/ Casting News ?

[CATSNYrevival]

Have any critics published their reviews from Cleveland yet?

[dmwnc1959]

bwayphreak234 said: "It was changed toward the end of the Broadway run when Bette made her return, I believe."

It was rumored that Bette Midler, who is most definitely not a Trump fan, and neither is Betty Buckley by the way, refused to sing that word when she returned for the final six weeks, and changed it to what is now. 

 

[Miramar3]

dmwnc1959 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "It was changed toward the end of the Broadway run when Bette made her return, I believe."

It was rumored that Bette Midler, who is most definitely not aTrump fan, and neither is Betty Buckley by theway,refused to sing that word when she returned for the final sixweeks,and changed it to what is now.

"

Betty Buckley's catchphrase for this tour is "We're going to make America happy again."

[Rosie Cloo]

I noticed a few other changes the 2nd time in addition to the trump line.

[LizzieCurry]

Like...?

[Flowerlovestage5]

dmwnc1959 said: "bwayphreak234 said: ".....It was rumored that Bette Midler, who is most definitely not aTrump fan, and neither is Betty Buckley by theway,refused to sing that word when she returned for the final sixweeks,and changed it to what is now..."

Yes, Bette sang: "...frump to a fine lady fair..."

Betty sang: "...frump to a great lady fair..."

 

 

[Loopin’theloop]

That’s realky interesting. I was actually surprised to hear Bette Midler sing the lyric as written, on the cast recording and when I saw the show sometime later.

I’d be interested to know if there was ever any talk of using the original choreographic section of ‘I Put My Hand In’ in which Dolly uses a shotgun to procure a beau for the distressed looking young Singleton. I wasn’t surprised in the least that it wasn’t used but I l’d love to know if it was discussed or simply nixed straight away.

[dmwnc1959]

CATSNYrevival said: "Have any critics published their reviews from Cleveland yet?"

I’ve looked and looked and found nothing. I’m thinking maybe because the first show was on a Sunday, and today it’s “dark”, we may not see anything until Wednesday? I also searched more Instagram and Twitter feeds and had no luck there either. 

 

[LizzieCurry]

Aren't they still in previews?

[dmwnc1959]

LizzieCurry said: "Aren't they still in previews?"

The Official Opening Night is this Friday 10/05/2018, so I guess so? 

[LizzieCurry]

Well there ya go.

[dmwnc1959]

LizzieCurry said: "Well there ya go."

Sorry, I wasn’t really sure how that worked. Maybe I thought that’s what Utica was, in addition to being referenced as the Tech shows. Looking forward to seeing the show twice, on Friday and Saturday. The weather forecast looks a little iffy, but that’s fine. Hoping for the best. :)

 

[DAME]

dmwnc1959 said: "LizzieCurry said: "Well there ya go."

Sorry, Iwasn’t really sure how that worked.MaybeI thoughtthat’s what Utica was, in addition to being referenced asthe Tech shows. Looking forwardto seeingthe show twice, on Friday and Saturday. The weather forecast looks a little iffy, but that’s fine. Hoping for the best. :)

"

I don’t think it’s a outdoor venue.

[dmwnc1959]

DAME said: "I don’t think it’s a outdoor venue."

It’s not, of course. I’ve been to the Connor Palace last year when I saw The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and to the State Theater this past July for Hamilton. My concern for the weather was the 10 minute walk to and from the hotel if it’s raining, and hopefully a window card of some kind. 

 

[dmwnc1959]

Loopin’theloop said: "That’s realky interesting. I was actually surprised to hear Bette Midler sing the lyric as written, on the cast recording and when I saw the show sometime later.

I’d be interested to know if there was ever any talk of using the original choreographic section of ?I Put My Hand In’ in which Dolly uses a shotgun to procure a beau for the distressed looking young Singleton. I wasn’t surprised in the least that it wasn’t used but I l’d love to know if it was discussed or simply nixed straight away."

 

When did you see the show last that she sang that particular lyric? As for the shotgun, wow. It seems like it might have changed the innocence and overall lightheartedness of the musical, if you know what I mean. 

 

[EthelMae]

Hey dmwnc1959 - can't wait for your thoughts! Have fun.
In regards to the "trump" lyric in I Put My Hand In, if I remembering correctly, Midler sang the original lyric when I very first saw the show a day before the Tony's. I remember her singing the same a few times after that. I also think Murphy sang the original lyric. Peters, I think sang the original lyric. I don't think it was changed until Midler's return. At least that's how I recall it. Could be wrong. Buckley is definitely not singing the "trump" lyric!

[LizzieCurry]

dmwnc1959, most tours of this calibre will have at least one preview at every stop, so the reviews won't be out immediately.

[dmwnc1959]

Just got this in an email....VERY excited!!! It’ll be interesting to see how many show up in RED! I know I am. :)

VIDEO

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qA0VP3GX28E

 

[dmwnc1959]

https://mobile.twitter.com/HelloDollyBway/status/1047959521073618944

[dmwnc1959]

Made it to Cleveland around 1pm, a 4-hr drive from where I live in WV. After checking into the hotel, took a stroll in the light rain down to Playhouse Square and took pictures of the the “Hello, Dolly!” street pole banners that line both sides and the center all the way up and down of Euclid Avenue. There’s a very large billboard, several digital sidewalk ad signs, and restaurant window cards that also have “Hello, Dolly!”. It’s everywhere.

Took a peek into the Connor Palace and the outer lobby is decorated with potted red feather plumes, which are stunning against the red wallpaper and chandelier sconces. The souvenir stand did not look to have official window cards. Maybe it’s too early yet.

Heading back down around 6pm to get more pictures, especially of the huge, gorgeous GE Chandelier lit up. It’s the largest outdoor chandalier in the world, and it hangs in the main intersection of Playhouse Square. 

[BwayLB]

Have fun tonight

[dmwnc1959]

BwayLB said: "Have fun tonight"

I’m sure I will! My brother in Washington State just sent me a text saying “I’d say enjoy it but I know you will anyway.”

Already seated, have an end aisle seat with a GREAT unobstructed view of the stage. The orchestra is sort of below and in half-in, half-exposed under the passerelle. I can’t see how this thing is supported, the part that extends out from the stage, but it’s definitely not a real passerelle. Not a big deal. The curtain looks identical to the one from the Shubert Theater. 

 

[dmwnc1959]

Intermission. So far the show is absolutely amazing!!! As mentioned before there are some slight set differences: the Vandergelder store set part where Cornelius and Barnaby pop in and out the basement is about twice the height of the one from the Shubert Theater. And the top right of the store seems a little shorter. Did the one on Broadway have a roof on that side? As for Irene’s hatshop, there’s the different set pieces that are all in place once the scrim ? rises from the end of “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” scene that shows the exterior of the hatshop. That entire hat shop scene was hilarious and very well done. Once it’s finished, the set pieces are all pushed off stage or raised. The part were Dolly talks to Ephraim and tells him to let her go, I swear Betty was really crying wiping away tears. It was very emotional. The crowd here are all quite enjoying the show. Lots of laughs and applause. If I didn’t know any better I’d swear I was back in NYC watching the show again. More later after I get back to the hotel. 

[BwayLB]

I do hope for big applause in the title song and the sequence is worth the money.

[dmwnc1959]

There were some minor differences in the orchestration at the beginning of “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” when the song first starts up with “Out there, there’s a world outside of Yonkers...”. But it was still beautifully done, and the scene where all the colorful dresses and suits come out is still stunning. And there was one missed line in the hat shop scene during “Dancing”. I don’t think anyone other than those quite familiar with the lyrics would have noticed. Nic Rouleau (Cornelius) and Jess LeProtto (Barnaby) were a true delight to watch, the latter has his comic routine down pat, and Analisa Leaming (Irene) sang “Ribbons Down My Back” beautifully.

And “Before The Parade Passes By” with the 14th Street Parage got lots of applause.

Now...

If Act 1 was good, Act 2 was superb. The Waiter’s Gallop and the title song, along with the extended dance routine, both got roars of approval and huge, huge applause. There was one dropped plate and another dropped dish towel during that portion, and when Dolly splits the curtain at the top of the staircase part of it stuck on her shoe, and it took a second to free it, but no one seemed to have really minded through the huge applause and cheers. And I tell you something, the harmonizing and vocals of the waiters during the title song were simply gorgeous. 

The “dumpling and beets” part of the Harmonia Gardens dining scene, which extends to the courtroom scene, were very, very funny, but it’ll take some work to beat Bernadette and Bette, who were both masterful at it. And I thought Nic and Analisa did a very good job singing “It Only Takes A Moment”. 

Several times during her talks with Ephraim, and at the end when she’s taking with Horace in his store, again, I’d swear she was wiping away real tears.

Betty Buckley and Lewis J. Stadlen were quite the team up there on that stage, and as it was mentioned earlier in the thread, they played well off of each other. In time these two will be simply fantastic. 

When the curtain came down the applause and cheers were again deserving of this wonderful show, and when the final dance scene and curtain calls came, more bursts of cheers for the main cast, especially when Betty Buckley came out.

At the end she was given a huge bouquet of flowers, and as the curtain fell for the final time tonight, the applause continued as everyone departed the theater.

With all the minor differences and little missed cues, what an absolute true joy it was to have seen this show again. I had a smile on my face and watery eyes most of Act 2.

And I can’t wait to see it again tomorrow!