Dolly is a knockout

Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 11:04

Theatre Review, Hello Dolly, Toads Stage Musical Company, Princess Theatre, Torquay.

FOUR STARS

Typical. You get a decent am-dram show with all the bells and whistles and then a recession comes along and your audience forget you are on.

If it is more a case of a lack of cash than a dread of amateur musicals then let me quell any fears.

There's no groups of hanger-on chorus members over-acting stiffly and strangely in the corners.

There's no dodgy one size fits all shiny 'Victorian' costumes, and no-one parachuted in to a prime role because they are best buddies with the committee (not that any am-drams down here would).

And they've even only gone and got the male chorus to dance in time.

More seriously, Hello Dolly is a great bit of theatre, Toads SMC have managed to boil down an amateur production into a professional show in just about everything but name.

It's a £42,000 gamble that, on artistic merits, seems well worth taking.

The show follows the trials and tribulations of Dolly Levi (Rae Gilderthorp) as she dilly-dallies and dabbles with the lovelife and aspirations of everyone around her — including her own.

As she meddles, merriment unfolds and the rich-man's playground of 1890s New York comes alive.

It's less of a show focusing on narrative and more about the big band numbers. This can be a dangerous game when relying on a chorus who are sometimes in the background for a reason.

It wasn't the case with Toads SMC.

The big show numbers including Before the Parade Passes By, Waiters Gallop and the title track Hello Dolly were majestic, choreographed and exercised with precision and energy.

More than that, they were fully integrated with the dialogue and woven into two pace filled acts.

No script, song, script, song plod here.

It seems Toads SMC have tapped into the huge wealth of talent in the Bay.

As a package Hello Dolly relies so much on the charisma on the leading lady, Rae Gilderthorp taking the challenge of filling some big boots.

She held court admirably and embraced the part, even if she held back from some of the big belters at times.

Reluctant love interest Vandergerlder played by Rob Pethick was also an insightful casting choice as he made the role his own.

The only slight niggle being his deep American accent getting in the way of understanding some of the lines.

Jo Button as Irene Molloy stole the first half with her pitch perfect rendition of Ribbons Down my Back.

Sidekick Georgina Johnson as Minnie Fey appeared equally as competent, as did Steve Gale and Nicholas Heath as shop workers Cornelius and Barnaby. There was a great on stage rapport between the two.

The production was excellently staged.

Clean lines and big space gave prominence to an innovative set which, when it behaved, looked hugely impressive.

Choreography courtesy of Aubrey Budd was absolutely on the mark as were the dancers who bore out the vision.

I saw the show opening night and I'm sure it will grow with confidence, taking advantage of responses from the live audience and ironing out microphone issues.

Overall, Hello Dolly offers two hours of escapism and entertainment at a crucial time. It's one of their best shows yet.

It runs until Saturday.

JONPAUL HEDGE