Carol Channing is fabulous in Hello, Dolly!
You're only as old as you feel and Carol Channing must be feeling pretty young these days. Channing starred as the meddlesome, but loving Dolly Levi in Sacramento Light Opera Association's Hello, Dolly! which appeared at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, Feb. 4-9, 1997.
Channing, 76, has lost a few steps since she originated the role of Dolly Levi on Broadway over 30 years ago, but the actress seems so comfortable in the role you can't picture seeing anyone else on stage doing it.
In 1995, Channing received the Lifetime achievement Tony Award, and previously won a Tony Award in 1964 and the New York Drama Critics Award for her role in Hello, Dolly!
The opening night crowd at the Community Center clearly loved her every minute she was on stage. Personal preferences dictate you overlook her grating, raspy trademark voice, but Carol had the audience won over the second she first appeared and could do no wrong in the eyes of the crowd, despite a few hesitations in line delivery and her obvious slowness in some of the dance routines.
Channing works the role well. Dolly is a busy-body matchmaker type, who likes being in on everything and knowing everything there is to know about everyone she meets. Can't dance? She'll teach you. Need a husband or wife? Dolly's a great matchmaker. Need advice about anything? Dolly's the one to go to.
But she's finally decided to settle down herself, and goes after her own match after convincing him that the match she originally made for him is not really a very good choice.
While Channing was clearly the star of the show, she had excellent support from the other main characters in the production.
Lee Roy Reams played Cornelius Hackl and Scott Bridges appeared as Barnaby Tucker. Herman Petras was Horace Vandergelder, the object of Dolly's affections, and Monica Lee Gradischek played Minnie Fay. Jeanne Lehman rounded out the main characters as Irene Molloy.
The interaction between the characters was perfect and this talented troupe has obviously developed the chemistry needed to make this show a continued success.
After the show, Channing and cast came back for their bows to a standing ovation, but then didn't leave the stage as Channing began chatting to the crowd.
No one made a move to leave, and so Carol just kept talking about everything that came to mind, including the fact that no one was leaving, so she felt obligated to keep talking.
It was clear that Carol Channing loves the audiences as much as they lover her, and hopefully she will continue on in the role that she has made famous for many years to come.
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