Hello Dolly
Hello Dolly
JackersCrackers
Swing Joined: 7/26/04
#0Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:59pm
I just read Thorton Wilder's The Matchmaker in preparation for a Hello Dolly audition. However, I was just wondering if anyone would be able to help me a little bit with the character development for Dolly Levi. I'm not sure about her accent, either... I watched the movie but I can't figure out exactly what Babs is going for. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you!
E-mail : stagedreamer04@yahoo.com
"Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult."
-Sir Laurence Olivier
Swing Joined: 12/31/69
#1re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/9/04 at 1:52pm
First of all, don't try to emulate Babs.
Dolly Levi is obviously jewish. A really thick Brroklyn acent might me funny.
Her character starts off as a meddler and a know it all, then she has an empifanny (the song When the Parade Passes by) in which she realizes she needs to move on (from her widow-hood) and find love with Horace.
Keep in mind that Dolly is, (the flames are gonna fly) not necessarily the principle character of this show. I think that title goes to Cornelius. He is, after all in all but the very first scene. If you count how many songs Dolly is in that Cornelius is not, then count the songs she is in that he is not, you'll see my point. Maybe I'm biased because I've played Cornelius twice.
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#2re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:31pm
Dolly's name is Dolly Gallagher Levi. She married Ephraim Levi who died, what, seven years before. She's as Jewish as Alan Keyes.
Dolly is the lead. This title role is a New York girl who has made a living since her husband's death by her wits and gumption.
Hello, Dolly and The Matchmaker are primarily concerned with Dolly getting Horace Vander Gelder to marry her and not the beautiful and young Irene Malloy.
She has made up her mind before the show begins that this is her mission. Her speech to Ephraim prior to Parade is the authors' device to let the audience learn of her way of thinking and what her goal is.
In answer to the basic question, the less accent the better. It is possible to get too Method-y about accents. Take a look at the long line of Dollys: Ruth Gordon and Shirley Booth in the stage and film of The Matchmaker and Carol et al in the musical. As for Barbra, can we use the word 'miscast' and let it pass?
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
Updated On: 8/9/04 at 02:31 PM
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#3re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/9/04 at 4:58pm
Yvonne de Carlo did a fine job when she played Dolly. She used a slight Irish brogue--fitting for someone who was "born Gallagher".
Don't assume that Ephraim was Jewish. He was from Vienna, where there are many, many Catholics with names like Levi and Stein.
Carol Channing used a bit of a New York accent when she played the role. This was obvious when she pronounced Horace's last name: VAAAAAAndergelder. She was also very New Yorkish when it came to the word "chicken". She over-enunciated the New York pronunciation of the word "blue" when she pondered the new wallpaper.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Barbra Streisand
Chorus Member Joined: 8/8/04
#5re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/9/04 at 9:40pm
Babs actually had Mae West in mind and when you watch it again, look for her Mae West moments.
There is a note/word (again) near the end of the Hello Dolly number where she sounds exactly like Mae.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
Barbra Streisand
Chorus Member Joined: 8/8/04
#6re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/18/04 at 10:14pmGlebb: Have you ever listened to Barbra Striesand's album, "A Happening in Central Park"? She imatates Mae West!
WayWicked
Featured Actor Joined: 5/21/04
#7re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/18/04 at 10:41pmAccent? What accent? You play the character as you would. Not anyone else.
Happy Happy Joy Joy
#8re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/18/04 at 10:47pm
Oh thanks. I didn't realize I was in the company of Stella Adler.
Yes Barbara Streisand, I've heard the Central Park Concert and I would not call that Mae West inpersonation Barbara's best.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
Updated On: 8/18/04 at 10:47 PM
#9re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/19/04 at 3:48am
I have no clue if she is channeling Mae West.
All I know, is that is one of the first musical I encountered, and have thereby loved Barbra's version of "Hello Dolly" for many years. I loved it. Even though she may not have enjoyed it so much, I know I did.
Deet: Shira, I Love You!
#10re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/19/04 at 7:50am
I read about it so many years ago, but I think "influenced by" is more like it.
Have any of you seen the screen tests of Ann Margret for the role of Irene Molloy?
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#11re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/19/04 at 10:12amtry to catch the movie of The Match Maker...Shirley Booth is so endearing in anything she approaches...
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
Marquise
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/1/04
#12re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:10pm
i saw ann-margret's screen test for irene malloy. kind of sad that at that point in time a-m's career was in a state where she had to actually test for a role. too bad she didnt get it, she would have been an improvement over marianne mcandrew...as a matter of fact that whole movie is a mess.
the highlight for me was satchmo saving the day during the "hello dolly" number.
after seeing it i was left with one thought: "i can't believe i watched THE WHOLE THING!"
#13re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/19/04 at 9:38pmYou can also see very young Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Perkins in THE MATCHMAKER.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#14re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/19/04 at 9:45pmAs far as your question about the character development of the great Dolly Levi, my thoughts are that she is huge charcter. She walks into the room and everyone knows it. She has her nose in everyone's business and as a great director of mine once said, you have to play this role and each of her lines as if that is your only line in the show. Hope this helps. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
JackersCrackers
Swing Joined: 7/26/04
#15re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:03pmThanks a lot for your help everyone...I certainly will!
"Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult."
-Sir Laurence Olivier
Barbra Streisand
Chorus Member Joined: 8/8/04
#17re: Hello Dolly
Posted: 8/21/04 at 12:29amSo what! You know who I mean.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
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