Hello Dolly! (Walsall Operatic Society)

Recently revived on Broadway with The Divine Miss M (Bette Midler) in the leading role, Hello Dolly! is currently running at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, presented by Walsall Operatic Society and with an equally divine and intoxicating Vicki Hardy as Dolly Gallagher Levi meddling matchmaker amongst many other talents.

Whilst her success in matchmaking is prolific, her attempts to find a match for 'half a millionaire' Horace Vandergelder, an imposing and authoritative performance from Craig Smith, seem to singularly fail, perhaps because she has eyes for him herself.

Her latest attempt at matching Mr Vandergelder is with millinery shop owner Irene Molloy, a charming and beautifully voiced portrayal from Lizzie Buckingham who finds herself more attracted to Vandergelder's chief clerk Cornelius Hackl, played with great self-assurance and stage presence by Adam Gregory who has skipped work and Yonkers to spend a day in New York with fellow clerk Barnaby Tucker, an athletic performance from Alex Woolliscroft who in turn also finds love with Minnie Fay assistant in Mrs Molloy's shop and played by a delightfully captivating Hannah Bird.

Completing the array of couples are artist Ambrose Kemper, exuberantly played by Chris Room a suitor for Vandergelder's rather teary niece Ermengarde, a wonderful piece of characterisation from Eleanor Shephard.

It would be easy to get confused as the storyline weaves around the different partnerships and their links with each other but, some insightful direction from Adam Sarka Lacey and engaging choreography from Jessica Lambert keeps the audience attention in the right place at the right time, complemented by some well known tunes, expertly delivered by MD, Ian Room and members of the Midlands Concert Orchestra.

Highlights are many but, watch out for a beautiful cameo performance from Gill Westwood as Ernestina and the ‘Put on Your Sunday Clothes’ number which epitomises what musical theatre is all about and rightfully received a rousing response.

Only very few performances to go as the run finishes on Saturday 22nd June 2019 so before this parade passes by, grab yourself a ticket and make sure you say Hello to this Dolly.

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