Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 25, 1994 TAG: 9407070097
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KAREN L. DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Director Ernest Zulia said ``Hello, Dolly!'' is probably the most technically complex production Mill Mountain has staged. Earlier this week, he expressed some concern about the technical difficulties his crew had encountered during rehearsals.
A major glitch befell Thursday night's preview performance, the final phase of the rehearsal process, when some electrical problem caused the lighting equipment to malfunction. Instead of the planned 120 lighting cues, Act II would have only about 10, Zulia announced to the audience during intermission.
He needn't have worried, however. Act II was even better than Act I, because the cast members outdid themselves on old favorites like ``So Long Dearie,'' ``It Only Takes a Moment,'' and of course, the title tune, ``Hello, Dolly,'' which many may remember was used as President Lyndon Johnson's campaign theme song in 1964.
A unified and talented cast carried Thursday's show through a rousing finale and received a standing ovation, despite the lighting glitches.
Judith Thiergaard brings a strong voice and much stage presence to the title role character, matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi. The plot centers on Dolly's efforts to arrange a mating between a ladies' hatmaker, Irene Malloy (played by Thea Mann), and a rich widower, Horace Vandergelder (played by J. Lee Flynn), who runs a feed store in Yonkers. Weary of fixing other people's lives, however, Dolly decides to do something about her own single situation and grab Horace for herself.
Flynn lends much humor to the role of Horace, a miserly, miserable, money-loving wretch. A good singer as well, he turns ``It Takes A Woman'' into a dance highlight in Act I with his store clerks, Cornelius Hackl (played by John Corker) and Barnaby Tucker (played by Nick McNeely).
Set in turn-of-the-century New York, this all-time favorite musical comedy shines with eccentric dance numbers, like the dazzling, superbly choreographed ``Waiters Gallop'' that leads up to the evening's title song. Elegantly attired waiters at the exclusive Harmonia Gardens Restaurant do cartwheels over chairs, juggle stacks of stemware and plates and fence with shishkebab skewers before peace is restored by Dolly's grand entrance down a long stairway.
Turn-of-the-century costumes, designed by Mitch Baker and Robert Croghan, are in bright, carnival colors to convey excitement and liveliness. The scenery is as lavish as it is complex. Sliding panels on tracks make up a convincing New York storefront and cleverly serve as exit and entry points for the actors. Other sets - the feed store, hat shop, restaurant and courtroom - are assembled be hind the storefront panels and quickly roll on and off on wheels.
``Hello, Dolly!'' is based on the play ``The Matchmaker'' by Thornton Wilder. The score by Jerry Herman blends modern-day lyrics with old-time song styles to give the play an appealing flavor of both the new and the nostalgic.
Mill Mountain's musical director David Caldwell conducts a small ensemble of six in the orchestra pit.
A large ensemble supports the cast in the show's 17 musical numbers. Other cast members include Kyle Puccia as Ambrose Kemper, Suzanne Jaffe as Ermengarde, Kathryn Velvel as Minnie Fay, Juliet David as Mrs. Rose and Al Gordon as Rudolph. Mill Mountain's Doug Patterson makes several cameo appearances, including one ``special'' appearance that may well be the humorous highlight of his career.
``Hello, Dolly!'' continues at Mill Mountain Thetre through July 17. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets, $15 and $18 for matinees, Tuesday-Wednesday evenings; $17 and $20 for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. 342-5740.
by CNB