Book by Michael Stewart
Music & Lyrics by
Jerry Herman
Directed by Michael
Moore
Queanbeyan Players
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
to 9 June
Reviewed by Len Power
31 May 2019
‘Hello, Dolly!’ is one of the most successful musicals ever
produced. Opening on Broadway in 1964,
this musical version of the play, ‘The Matchmaker’, by Thornton Wilder had an
initial run of over 2,800 performances. The
delightful musical score by Jerry Herman contains one well-known song after
another.
The story involves a wily matchmaker at the end of the 19th
century in New York City who decides to make a match for herself with stingy
and irritable hay and feed merchant, Horace Vandergelder, of Yonkers, New York.
The huge role of Dolly Levi, the matchmaker, is played by
Janelle McMenamin. She sings the role
strongly and appealingly but opts for a low key and more realistic performance
in the role. It’s an interesting choice
but the role was written for a charismatic star performer and it really needs
stronger and more eccentric playing to be fully satisfying.
Tony Falla is terrific as Horace Vandergelder, singing and playing
the irascibility of the character with a fine sense of comedy. Will Collett gave a great performance as the
innocent Cornelius Hackl. He has a good
singing voice and stage presence. Demi
Smith played the widow Irene Molloy with great sensitivity as well as fun. Her singing of ‘Ribbons Down My Back’ was
especially fine.
 |
| Left to Right: Madeline Calder (Ermengarde), Aaron Sims (Ambrose), Janelle McMenamin (Dolly), Tony Falla (Horace), Demi Smith (Irene) and Will Collett (Cornelius) |
Max McMillan as Barnaby Tucker excelled with his physical
comedy abilities and sang very well too.
Madeline Calder, in her Canberra theatre debut, was a standout in the
comic role of the snivelling Ermengarde.
She also showed that she is a fine dancer.
Emily Pogson was very appealing and effective in her role of
Minnie Fay as was Aaron Sims as Ambrose Kemper.
Judith Colquhoun gave a skilful and very funny performance in the small
role of Ernestina Money.
Costumes by Janetta McRae were nicely in period and very
colourful. Set pieces by Thomson Quan
Wing were simple but effective, especially the transition from the outside to the
inside of the hat shop. It was
disappointing to see some scenes played on a bare stage with only black
curtains.
Musical director, Jenna Hinton, obtained very attractive
singing performances by all cast members.
The fine harmony singing by the chorus was especially notable. The orchestra on opening night had a few
wobbly moments but was otherwise fine.
Sound balance between orchestra and performers was just right as was the
choreography by Belinda Hassall.
Queanbeyan Players and director, Michael Moore, have given us
a very entertaining, well-sung and colourful production of this much-loved and
famous musical.
Photo: Canberra Times
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 1 June 2019
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
