Open Air Theatre?s Hello Dolly! Previewed to critics this week which is the first time that Hello Dolly! Has been performed on stage since 1982 when it ran at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
The title role of match maker is played by Samantha Spiro who also played in Funny Girl earlier this year and is the work of artistic director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Stephen Mear.
Coincidently, the same duo worked together on the award winning Gigi revival last year and has a knack for bringing Broadway classics back to life.
Hello Dolly! First opened on Broadway back in 1964 and met with critical acclaim via the receipt of ten Toy Awards. It became a household title after Barbara Streisand took on the lead role in a 1969 film version.
In the new production, Spiro is accompanied by Mark Anderson, Oliver Brenin, Josefina Gabrielle, Andy Hockley, Allan Corduner, John Stacy, Clare Louise Connolly, Akiya Henry, and Daniel Crossley.
For the most part the revival was an excellent piece of work with Spire performing beyond what was expected of her with the aid of director Sheader. Co-star Allan Coduner was also perfect as the villainous character as well as the choreography by Mear.
The only downfall of the play was some odd musical notes that seemed to appear at unmatched moments of the play in regards to the plot, but it was easy to ignore the mismatching musical theme with Spiro?s exuberant captivating performance to watch.
