Streisand notwithstanding, I really don't think HELLO, DOLLY! works if the title role is played by someone who looks younger than 40, at minimum -- for all of the reasons so many people felt that Streisand was wildly miscast in terms of age. Of course, I realize it's largely a matter of opinion as to how old someone looks, and also it depends at least a bit on whether it's a stage production as opposed to film or TV.
On the other hand, if a Dolly looks much older than 50 (regardless of her actual age), the story also doesn't work. She has to look old enough to worry about the parade passing her by, but not so old that it has already passed and that it seems odd for her to be trying to find a husband in the latter stage of her life -- keeping in mind that we're talking about the late 19th century, when people died at a much younger average age than they do now. |
