Hello, Dolly!

Hello, Dolly: the play that almost broke by girls' spirits.  It was a HUGE production, with a young cast and a lot of moving pieces and hurdles, like tuxedo rentals, 4 different choreographers, 2 principal characters sick during Dress & Tech Week, only 1 senior on the cast, and 1 stressed out director. Through sooo many lyrics, lines, and steps of choreography memorized, through hard days and sick days, and director-doesn't-love-us-today days, this cast persevered and put on another dazzling performance!  There were moments both my girls said this would be their last play, but that idea seems to have disappeared on this side of the high of performance weekend, and I'm so glad!  Watching them shine on stage is one of my greatest joys.

So, what's the story of Hello Dolly and what were Ella and Delia's parts in it?  Dolly Levi is widow matchmaker, who does everything from teach you how to dance to practice law.  She has her eyes set on the curmudgeonly, but endearing, old Horace Vandergelder.  This is their "love" story, with a few others finding their match along the way.  Delia was in the ensemble, singing and dancing her heart out almost the whole time on stage.  She's a background character, but the joy of performing just oozes out of her and she catches the audience's eye.  We were told over and over how fun she was to watch.  Ella was Ernestina Money, a friend of Dolly's, who does her a special favor by going on a date with Horace and being hilariously horrible, driving him straight into Dolly's arms.  

The show opens with the company of ladies singing, "Call on Dolly".  Note all the cute dresses and hats!  Our costume people outdid themselves with this play!  Note also, all the best pictures are taken professionally and shared with us by Erica, the director's daughter.

Horace's clerks, Barnaby and Cornelius, dream of getting away from his hay and feed store for a night in New York City and sing the famous, "Put on Your Sunday Clothes", which was a show stopper!

Barnaby and Cornelius bump into Minnie May and Irene Malloy and fall instantly in love.  Dolly teaches them all how to dance.  Ella looked so elegant and beautiful in the background of this lovely number to "Dancing".

Dolly, ready to "feel her heart come alive again", belts out that she will keep her head up and find love again to the whole company number, "Before the Parade Passes By", which was choreographed professionally from a dance studio and looked AMAZING!

Act 2 opens in the fancy Harmonia Gardens restaurant, where the waiters serve AND sing, dance, sword fight, flip and do tricks!  This was Delia biggest, longest and favorite scene. This is also the scene where the loveably obnoxious Ernestina Money makes her appearance, terrifying old Horace with her cringey voice and talk of garter belts and dancing the hoochy koochy.  

It worked!  Dolly thanks her!

"Hello, Dolly!  Well, hello Dolly!  It's so nice to have you back where you belong!"  This iconic number was yet another show stopper!  

Chaos erupts as multiple characters and plot points converge at the Harmonia Gardens, but not to worry-- nothing a judge and a love scene can't solve!  Barnaby and Irene share a sweet kiss after professing "It Only Takes a Moment" to fall in love.

 And perhaps inspired by this love story, Horace and Dolly finally get theirs too.  A match for everyone!

So, here is what we have learned from this season of Hello Dolly.  Using your gifts to glorify God brings joy to all.  It is good to do hard things.  If you keep the big picture in mind and persevere, you will be rewarded.  Sweet new friends can be found in any class.  Don't accidently leave your dance shoes at home on performance night.  And when dancing for two and a half hours with your straight, fine hair, about 100 bobby pins will be required to keep that style in place! ;)