Skip to content
Entertainment

'Hello, Dolly', hello, success

    by By Rachel Horner, Eastern Regional High Schools, Inquirer
    Published 

Horace is to marry Irene, but neither really loves the other. Ermengarde wants to marry Ambrose, against Horace's wishes. Minnie doesn't know what she wants, and Cornelius and Barnaby simply want a day off! Confused? Then you'd have a tough time being Dolly Levi, the widowed woman who's taken it upon herself to solve everyone else's problems while simultaneously finding a husband of her own. This scrambled story was successfully staged this weekend at Friends' Central School with their production of Hello, Dolly!.

The story originated with John Oxenford's 1835 play, A Day Well Spent, was adapted into Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, and was made into a musical by David Merrick. Hello, Dolly! was briefly the longest running musical on Broadway with an impressive 2,844 performances. In 1964, it won ten Tony Awards, including best musical. Short-lived revivals appeared in 1975, 1978, and 1995.

The spirited nature of Hello, Dolly! was well-executed by Friends' Central's dedicated cast. By using the entire theater as their stage, each cast member's emotion filled the room as the audience applauded each energetic number.

Enthusiastic and committed from the get go, Sarah Cullinan gave a passionate performance as the title character, Dolly Levi. She delivered each amusing line with Dolly's characteristic charm, never once breaking character. Alongside her was Matthew Block as Horace Vandergelder, whose speech and mannerisms appropriately suited his detailed character.

Among the supporting roles were Douglas Roberts as Cornelius Hackl and Jake Bessen as Barnaby Tucker, whose comedic timing and hilarious traits kept the audience laughing with every funny remark. Andie Belkoff, playing Minnie Fay, shined with beautiful vocals and dialogue, and Charlotte Pawley, playing Irene Molloy, effectively displayed her character's refined maturity.

With every stride into the audience, each actor was successfully lit by the attentive light crew. Set pieces were well-utilized, and they added to the admirable quality of the show. The props, specifically the waiters' trays and brooms, helped make more of each number and substantiated each scene.

"It Only Takes a Moment" for an audience to develop their first impression of a show. With its high energy, interesting choreography, and enthusiastic characters, Friends' Central's Hello, Dolly! made sure that impression was a great one!