Hello, Dolly! - London Palladium (2024)

Much preferred Kiss Me Kate, I just found this underwhelming. We were sat up top and the sound was terrible and didn't soar as it should. Woman behind us had a hearing aid and was fiddling around with it the whole time, half of the show was inaudible! I don't know why Horace has been directed like that, he was no where near grumpy or gruff enough....hmmmm. I really wanted to love it but just didn't.

I guess if it’s almost or just broken even, running it again makes sense to claw back some more costs (I assume an existing returning production is cheaper than starting from scratch).

Yes it’s had offers and not been sold out but that place is a barn so they’ll still have had a very healthy income.

And it’s a decent show, if not one I’d personally return to.

I really enjoyed it tonight and although the Bette Midler NYC was so good because of BM, this had far more nuance and made more sense of Dolly thanks to Imelda Staunton's performance. One question though: has the chomping on the turkey leg in the court scene been dropped completely or does it depend on how Imelda feels?. Unfortunately,this scene lost the humour completely whereas Bette (and, showing my age, Dora Bryan at Drury Lane) made this scene unbelievably funny. I do agree that Andy Nyman wasn't directed to be overly stubborn/miserable but I was moved by his delivery of the final scene as well as the very first lines from Imelda at the start of the title song which is normally done with all guns blazing, but she hesitated and really conveyed the nervousness of going back somewhere that you had good memories of and fearing it might not be the same. I thought that the travelator was used very well and with precision timing as in the final note of So Long Dearie. Poor Imelda, having to walk backwards on it at one point but still kept perfectly on the same spot. All that for a 10 week run was quite remarkable and a full house was testament to the popularity of a star name and a revival of a classic musical.

Saw it twice at the end of August, once front stalls and once front row, so no sound issues there. Great to see Imelda Staunton, though she seemed quite fragile and the whole production was designed around her. Good cast, large cast, stage looked quite full, liked the set. Never understood the love for the show, must be an American thing, you really have to switch off your brain to endure that plot. Otherwise very enjoyable, enthusiastic crowd, happy people around me, both times.

Have any covers been on during the run?

It’s the most gentlest of shows on the body, so I’d be stunned if anyone had had to miss even one show.

Saw the final performance tonight. I don't want to raise hopes but I noticed a couple of cameras (though no notices about filming).

I do hope that if this show is remounted, whether it´ll be the same production or (hopefully) a new one, it doesn´t feel like each actor is doing a completely different show. If there´s good and believable chemistry between the three couples, it can truly be a terrific show. Even with the "new" book.
And please cast a Mrs Molloy who looks and sings the part!

Not at all. Not everyone could see it, but, certainly in the original production of Cats, Trevor Nunn weaved a very strong narrative through it. Themes of acceptance, bonding, ageing, rejection and ultimately forgiveness and rebirth. The cats were cats. But also metaphorical and a reflection on human life.

I personally come out of Cats with a more satisfying narrative arc than Hello Dolly. So much of it made no sense. Couldn’t believe for a second that Harry Hepple and Jenna Russell would fall in love at more or less first sight. And. Well I won’t list everything we’ll be here for ages, but none of it was really believable and there were plot holes right left and centre. Like I said though, nice musical. Enjoyed the old fashioned musical schtick, the big cast and orchestra, the score, singing and dancing. And the visual presentation was good.

But yeah. I’d stand by Cats having a more engaging story. Sorry!

I think this clip was taken in previews. Did they keep that rather complicated (and messy at that point) routine for the bows?
Also, Imelda gurning like crazy on the word “again”.

I was at the matinee yesterday. Wonderful afternoon and my second visit. Overheard the ushers talking in the interval and one was saying about Imelda that she never loses that special magic. Great to hear considering they must have seen the show numerous times. Hope it returns next year. Not sure my bank balance can afford it though!