Hello, Dolly! - London Palladium (2024)

This cast just does not inspire me. And the ages are all wrong. The two men are almost the same age.

She does have a good voice.
It's just not one that you like.

Why get 'really annoyed' over something so trivial...

Whilst this might have been a big hit on Broadway, I suspect this won't play anything like it did there.

Sorry if this is answered somewhere upthread. Is this connected to/the same as the recent (ish) Broadway production with Bette Midler? Or a completely new production?

I know the Broadway production was a really big deal. I've never actually seen the show or the film. I bought the Bette CD though. Probably committing heresy, but other than a couple of songs, the title number included, I didn't think there were that many bangers, and only listened to it twice. Anyway, people loved it, so I assume the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. And like everyone I love Queen Imelda so will deffo check it out when the time comes.

I honestly think it's very unlikely it will immediately sell out though. Huge excitement in theatre circles is not the same as huge excitement from the masses. Plus almost nothing sells that well in advance these days.

New production, unconnected to the Bette Midler Broadway revival.

Jenna has a lovely voice, she's just entirely wrong casting for Irene Malloy on paper...

I’d say having a good voice is not at all trivial IN A MUSICAL!

Danny LaRue did it in the 80's; not to get too deep but it's crazy that in the last 10 years or so we have gone backwards in "our" acceptance and what is considered boundary pushing. (Not being rude to you just sad that if CRH was announced and that idea isn't actually that wild it would be seen as some big Thing when its already been done!)

I saw someone earlier say they like the new logo, I preferred the 2020 version with just the red and white, not the overused bulb lights, but I like the design on the D making the heart its cute!

I imagine once The Crown comes out that'll push some tickets as well, does anyone remember what sales were like in 2020 before it was cancelled? Obviously the production was far away but was it solid sales out the gate? I do remember buying my ticket almost like a year in advance but don't remember going back to check how it was doing?

Agree that US has a far bigger love affair with the show than we do, and traditional style musicals like this, Crazy For You, haven't done as well recently. 42nd Street seemed to do ok-ish from what I remember?

Interesting they have gone for some safe choices for supporting casts so it's really all up to Imelda to bring in the people, how did her Gypsy do? Again I remember sitting in the grand circle so it must have done alright...!

I can understand why Danny did it - his drag was basically Dolly at the time anyway lol I wouldn’t go and see CRH play Dolly though. It’s not about pushing boundaries… it feels gimmicky.

Personally can’t stand Jenna Russell’s voice. I don’t want to hear this score sung through her tight nasal cavities.

And just to complete my hat trick of moans on this when I’ve clearly woken up on the wrong side of the bed, why does the artwork look so bad? They’ve made it look like there’s a full stop at the end of Hello and it just looks….. ick.

Back on my perch I go!

That’s lovely- but it’s Rae Smith Designing it.

I’d heard that what was designed for the Adelphi was very brown and dour- let’s hope she’s found her red and gold paint by now.

I think that’s a bit unfair. All they used in NYC was a font- at least a little more effort has gone in to it here.

I hated it when it was white and red, but think this is much improved.
Maybe my standards are dropping!

I’m seeing an empty stage, lots of side lighting, some onstage camerrrrras, and, in the the title number, Dolly descending covered in the blood of her fox fur, and the ensemble facing away from her whilst monotoning “Hello”. The lighting will reduce and reduce over the course of the show. The curtain call will be solemn, and Imelda will be refused a bow. Instead, the Ensemble will simply point at her. Dominic Cooke will be arraigned for stealing Lloyd’s vision. Lloyd will have already been arraigned for stealing van Hove’s.

5 stars.

Yes agree. The title song on the Bette recording is painfully slow, and the whole thing lacks sparkle. I seem to remember they recorded it whilst in rehearsals which is very early.