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| Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: mermaniac 11:40 pm EST 01/07/18 | |
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| Just got back from Donna's farewell Dolly. As soon as that newspaper came down, the packed house was on its feet yelling for at least 2 minutes. Then another one for "Parade". Then another one in the middle of the Dolly number. Then another one at the end of the number. Then everyone stood for the WHOLE curtain call ! No curtain speech, but she mouthed: "I love you all." It was definitely a Donna house, and considering the fact that they applauded "Parade" in the OVERTURE (!!!), a theater-savvy one. The entire cast was perfect, just like I saw them on August 22nd. This production is polished to a high gloss. My friend with me was nudging me with joy during the whole show, and she REALLY needed the lift that this show gave her. Donna's performance joins Reba's in Broadway legend. Good luck, Bernadette ! You have BIG shoes to fill ! | |
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| re: Sounds exhausting! | |
| Posted by: broadwaymyway 02:25 am EST 01/09/18 | |
| In reply to: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - mermaniac 11:40 pm EST 01/07/18 | |
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| All that standing and sitting! Not with these knees... | |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: SQ 11:01 am EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - mermaniac 11:40 pm EST 01/07/18 | |
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| Good luck, Bernadette ! You have BIG shoes to fill ! Pretty sure Bernadette Peters will do just fine. And if she was worried about shoes, it isn't Donna's. |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: mermaniac 12:17 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - SQ 11:01 am EST 01/08/18 | |
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| Donna was playing Dolly. Bette was playing Bette. Bernadette is miscast. | |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: SQ 01:27 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - mermaniac 12:17 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
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| Donna was playing Dolly. Bette was playing Bette. Bernadette is miscast. It is obvious you are a Donna fan. Me not so much. I will go see Bernadette, and I am looking forward to it. |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 01:51 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - SQ 01:27 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
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| I keep reading that "Bette was playing Bette." I have to say, I think she was playing Dolly just as much as anyone else I've seen do it (including Channing and Streisand). She is a big distinctive personality, but her Dolly seemed to me very much within the script as written. Her approach to physical comedy was different from Channing's (Midler more broad and large, Channing more subtle and sly), but I loved them both. And I'm sure Murphy was wonderful, as well. Peters is a fine performer and a wonderful actress--the one time I've seen her in a "broad" role (dimension-wise, not slang for a kind of woman) was her Annie Oakley. Not my ideal of the character, but perfectly legitimate, it seemed to me. I doubt I'll return to see her do it, but mainly because it's expensive and I only have so many slots available when I make the perilous journey FROM Ithaca! | |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: SQ 04:52 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - BruceinIthaca 01:51 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
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| The OP writes of Bernadette Peters as being miscast. For what it's worth, Donna Murphy doesn't exactly jump to my mind as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly. |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: jmill 10:07 am EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - mermaniac 11:40 pm EST 01/07/18 | |
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| Thanks so much for posting on this, mermaniac. I was hoping someone was at Donna's finale last night, and so pleased it was such a love fest for her. I saw Donna twice as Dolly (and Bette once), and Donna was sensational. Loved her Dolly! As I posted after seeing Donna for the first time, in September, I've seen most of the big name Dollys over the years - Mary Martin, Pearl Bailey, Ginger Rogers, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing (in revivals), and Bette in July. Donna's performance is right up there with all of those - funny, poignant, nuanced, and beautifully crafted. Wish I could have been there last night, and very much looking forward to seeing Bernadette in this blissfully joyous production. One question for you - I know you said there were no speeches, but did the cast members acknowledge the "event" in any way, via gestures, applause, an extra hug, etc? | |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: DRNY 12:43 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - jmill 10:07 am EST 01/08/18 | |
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| Just before the overture started loud applause could be heard from backstage with some cheers, otherwise nothing on stage at the final bows or i missed it through my emotions and tears. | |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: mermaniac 12:24 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - jmill 10:07 am EST 01/08/18 | |
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| There was definitely love and connection between them, but what I loved was, when Horace says: "Wonderful woman !", the audience applauded. The audience was so "with" this performance ! There must have been a nice party afterwards. I, too, saw Carol, Pearl, and Ethel, and with or without Dolly, Donna is one of the greatest musical theater stars EVER. This is not gushing. There was magic in the air last night, and a palpable connection between audience and star. Definitely the best production of Dolly I've ever seen, and although I don't see Bernadette in that part, I'm hoping, for the sake of that wonderful cast, that she carries on. | |
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| re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! | |
| Posted by: jmill 12:41 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Donna Gets 5 Standing Ovations ! - mermaniac 12:24 pm EST 01/08/18 | |
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| I agree with you that Donna is a great musical theater star - I've seen many of her outstanding performances over the years. And, while memories can be deceiving, I have commented before about the glories of this Dolly production. There are a number of explanations, including the need for something uplifting and joyous to provide some relief from the depressing goings on at the White House and in Congress, plus the delight in seeing those costumes, sets, and the large cast, none of which we see all that often any more. But I also think this Dolly brings out the comedy of the show better than any of the previous productions, without losing in any way the poignancy and heart. Maybe it's also a by product of growing older, but all three times I saw this production, with both Bette (once) and Donna (twice), were totally sublime, memorable musical theater experiences. |
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