Hello Dolly

Genre: Musical
Opened 10 Aug 2009
Written: Book by Michael Stewart, Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman, Based on the Play 'The Matchmaker' by Thornton Wilder
Directed: Timothy Sheader
Cast: Samantha Spiro (Dolly)
Synopsis: Indulge in the lavish glitz and glamour of New York as Dolly Levi comes to town to do what she does best: match-make.

What the popular press had to say.....
HENRY HITCHING'S FOR THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Stephen Mear's crisp choreography and Timothy Sheader's pacy, clear direction ensure that this is a buoyant production." PAUL VALE for THE STAGE says, "vivacious, colourful production." KAT BROWN for THE LONDON PAPER says, "Beautifully staged production." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "It's really rather wonderful...On opening night it began to rain, leaving me to wonder if Hello, Dolly! would morph too quickly into Bye-Bye Dolly. But no one noticed or cared. It was all too tuneful, too bright, too much fun to be stopped by English wetness." MAXIE SZALWINSKA for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Jerry Herman's nostalgia-fest of a musical is big, brash and silly, forever teetering on the brink of saccharine. Timothy Sheader's staging offers a pure jolt of light relief, carefully building up audience goodwill with its pretty, sometimes striking stage pictures." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Fresh and likable revival."

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Guardian
The Independent
The Times

Production photo by Catherine Ashmore