Hello, Dolly!
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Introduction to "Hello, Dolly!"
"Hello, Dolly!" premiered in London’s West End at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on December 2, 1965, following its Broadway triumph in 1964. With a book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, and based on Thornton Wilder’s play "The Matchmaker," this musical ran for 794 performances until 1968. Starring Mary Martin as Dolly Levi, it returned in revivals most notably in 2009 at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre with Samantha Spiro and in 2024 at the London Palladium with Imelda Staunton. Its brassy score and heartwarming tale have made it a West End favorite.
The Creative Team Behind the Show
Jerry Herman crafted the infectious score think "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and lyrics, earning Tony Awards for the original. Michael Stewart’s book brought Wilder’s farce to life with wit. The 1965 production was directed by Gower Champion, whose choreography dazzled, replicated in London by Lucia Victor. Mary Martin’s Dolly shone, while the 2009 revival, directed by Timothy Sheader, and the 2024 staging, helmed by Dominic Cooke, featured Spiro and Staunton, respectively. Each iteration leaned on Herman’s melodies and a top-tier ensemble, including Andy Nyman and Jenna Russell in 2024.
A Matchmaker’s Merry Meddling
Set in 1890s New York, "Hello, Dolly!" follows widowed matchmaker Dolly Levi, hired by gruff merchant Horace Vandergelder to find him a wife though she secretly wants him for herself. Dolly meddles in the lives of Horace’s clerks, Cornelius and Barnaby, who sneak to the city seeking love, and milliner Irene Molloy, sparking chaos at her hat shop and the Harmonia Gardens restaurant. Through parades, pratfalls, and a grand staircase descent, Dolly orchestrates romance, singing "Before the Parade Passes By" and "Hello, Dolly!" to a triumphant, love-filled finale.
Performance and Reception
The 1965 debut charmed London, with The Stage calling Martin “a radiant delight,” fueling its 794-show run. The 2009 Open Air revival, with Spiro’s “impish” Dolly, won three Oliviers, while the 2024 Palladium production postponed from 2020 sold out fast, with The Guardian praising Staunton’s “commanding warmth.” Critics adored its nostalgia and spectacle, though some found the plot thin. Each run packed houses, with the 1964 Broadway cast recording and 1969 film (starring Barbra Streisand) boosting its fame.
Legacy in West End Theatre
"Hello, Dolly!" epitomized the golden age of musicals, influencing feel-good shows like "Mame." Its West End runs 1965, 1979 with Carol Channing at Drury Lane (694 performances), 2009, and 2024 total over 2,000 performances. The soundtrack, with millions sold, and global stagings from Japan to Brazil keep it alive. A West End staple, its blend of razzle-dazzle and heart capped by Dolly’s iconic return ensures it struts on, a timeless celebration of life and love.