Hello, Dolly! - The Lowry - 04/03/08 by Julia Taylor

You would never have guessed that Darren Day was recovering from the effects of a car accident on the opening night of the first professional production of ‘Hello Dolly’ for twenty years.

The smiles never left the face of this TV star and master of the musical as he relished the role of Cornelius Hackl who, thanks to the help of Anita Dobson’s Dolly Levi, got the girl of his dreams, Irene Molloy (Louise English).

Louise had a soft, almost operatic voice with clear diction which made “Ribbons down my Back” a particular joy to listen to. As Dolly, Anita often took centre stage, mesmerising the audience with her singing although her Yiddish accent from the Bronx did, occasionally waver.

A special moment came at the start of the second act when, dressed in a shimmering gold frock with black feather boa she walked seductively down a huge staircase singing the title song “Hello Dolly” although “Before the parade passes by” performed just before the interval, was equally impressive.

Anita played a cunning matchmaker and used the odd feminine wile to catch a man for herself. She even implored her dead husband to give a sign that she may have the man she wanted.

That man was David McAlister’s Horace Vandergelder, a rather mean store owner. One wondered what she saw in him. But Horace sang some wonderful songs and although he was old, had that vital requirement – loads of money. The male ensemble was particularly impressive especially when appearing as dancing waiters in a scene at the exclusive Harmonia Gardens Restaurant.

The costumes were lavish and colourful and the sets impressive. I liked the steam train which chuffed in the background. It was an added bonus that a live, 10-piece orchestra accompanied the singers but never overshadowed them.