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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">HELLO DOLLY,
a love affair between Terri Kent and the audience<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Roy Berko<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">--THE TIMES
NEWSPAPERS--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">LORAIN COUNTY
TIMES--WESTLAKER TIMES--LAKEWOOD NEWS TIMES--OLMSTED-FAIRVIEW TIMES<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">--COOLCLEVELAND.COM—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">It was
obvious from the pre-performance speech by the iridescent Maryann Black, to the
shouting cheer for Terri Kent’s entrance on stage as Dolly Levi, to the rousing
curtain call, that the open night audience was there to pay tribute to the long
time Artistic Director of the Porthouse theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>No matter her near laryngitis from extensive rehearsals, the
throng loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Kent,
returning to the stage after a thirteen year hiatus, portrayed Dolly Gallagher
Levi, as the scheming, irascible matchmaker.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>The role is the signature piece of the ageless Carol
Channing and was also a character made famous by Barbara Streisand in the film
version of the show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;text-transform:uppercase;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Hello, Dolly!,</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> which has </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">lyrics and music by
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Herman"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Jerry Herman</span></a> and a book by
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stewart_(playwright)"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Michael
Stewart</span></a>, is based on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton_Wilder"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Thornton Wilder</span></a>'s <span style="text-transform:uppercase"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merchant_of_Yonkers"><span style="color:windowtext;mso-bidi-font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;
text-underline:none">The Merchant of Yonkers</span></a></span>, which Wilder
revised and retitled <span style="text-transform:uppercase"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matchmaker"><span style="color:windowtext;
mso-bidi-font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">The
Matchmaker</span></a></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">The musical </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:
Helvetica">was first produced in 1964, winning the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Tony Award</span></a> for Best
Musical. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was also made into a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello,_Dolly!_(film)"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">1969 film</span></a>
that was nominated for seven <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Academy Awards</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Interestingly, though most think of Carol
Channing as Dolly Levi, the role was originally written for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Merman"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Ethel Merman</span></a>, who decided
not to do the part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Dolly was
offered to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Martin"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Mary Martin</span></a>,
who also declined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Eventually,
Channing was hired and made the role not only hers for life, but made the show
an international hit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The story centers on a meddlesome
widow who, out of need for money, and her natural exuberance for controlling
others and searching for a satisfying life, turns matchmaker,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>striving to bring romance to others as
well as herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The memorable score includes such hits
as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">It Takes a Woman</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Put on Your Sunday Clothes</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Before the Parade Passes By</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Elegance</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">It Only Takes a Moment</i> and the title song, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Hello Dolly</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Porthouse’s production, under the
direction of Victoria Bussert, is enjoyable, with many highs and some okays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">John Crawford’s choreography is
creative, though maybe a stretch for some of his dancers, some of whom had
difficulty with the lifts and timing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Jonathan Swoboda’s musical directing is on key, staying under the spoken
and sung words, thus not obliterating the words.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Most of the vocal blendings were good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Scenic Designer Nolan O’Dell did the
cast a disservice by creating a set that was too far downstage, giving little
room to move freely and forcing dancers and actors to continually watch
carefully as they walked up and down platforms, thus causing the performers to
break concentration while trying to avoid tripping.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>His choice of bland paint colors for this vivid show is also
questionable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Judith’s costumes were era
correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, watching the actors
sweating profusely in the heavy costumes, on the very hot night, was a little
uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Kent was delightful in her portrayal
of Dolly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Chuck Richie, as Horace
Vandergelder, the focus of Dolly’s husband interest, was excellent in the
role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He displayed just enough
huff and puff and underbelly vulnerability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Eric van Baars did what he does best,
mugging and having one heck of a good time as Cornelius Hackl, the 33-year old
(oh, come now!) boyish clerk in Vandergelder’s store.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Jason Leupold was delightful as Barnaby, Cornelius’s
sidekick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jessica Cope was
charming as Irene Molloy, Vandergelder’s intended who winds up with
Cornelius.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rebecca Wolfe was
adorable as Minnie Fay, Irene’s shop assistant.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Highlight numbers included:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Dancing</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hello Dolly</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">It Only Takes a Moment</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Put
on Your Sunday Clothes</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGMENT: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The sold out opening night audience got
what they came for—cheering the return to the stage of the charming Terri Kent,
and, incidentally, seeing a nice evening of musical theatre!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The show runs until
August 14th at Porthouse Theatre, on the grounds of Blossom Music Center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For tickets call 330-672-3884 or go
online to www.porthousetheatre.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div><div> </div><div><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#8000FF">Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info. His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and www.NeOHIOpal</font></i></div></div></body></html>