Goodbye Delllie –hello Dolly!
Dellie Saxe morphed into Dolly Levi on Wednesday with an exuberant, hustling and bustling performance in Savannah Center.
It was opening night for The Villages Musical Theater production of “Hello Dolly,” that runs through Friday.
Saxe, as might be expected, stole the show in the title role. Lee Mueller, as Horace, Bev Wehrheim as Irene and Carol Wiltman as Minnie Fay provided plenty of support. So did Dave Saxe –Dellie’s husband – who directed the show and played Cornelius Hacki.
“Dolly” is an old Broadway chestnut from the early ‘60s and was originally made famous with Carol Channing. Jerry Herman wrote the music and lyrics.
Over the years, the likes of Barbra Streisand, Mary Martin, Pearl Bailey and Bette Midler have tackled the title role. Saxe isn’t close to those legendary ladies but in a local production, she held her own. Saxe brought style, wit, charm and explosive energy to this Dolly.
It started when Saxe made her entrance sashaying down the center aisle to the front, below the stage.
She wore a blue, satin dress, trimmed with pink and had a bouncing bustle on the back. She made a quick, meddling impression as widowed matchmaker Dolly Levi.
She was percolating on early numbers, “I Put My Hand In,” and “Put On Your Sunday Clothes.” Saxe turned up the musical and dancing heat on “Before the Parade Passes By,” to end the first hour of the two-hour show.
“Some people paint; some sew – I meddle,” Dolly tells the locals early on.
The target of her meddling was wealthy shop owner Horace Vandergelder. Dolly is looking to match him, but really wants his money – and love?–for herself.
Mueller plays Horace as sort of a grumpy, bungling cross between Scrooge and Thurston Howell. He constantly hectors his workers: Cornelius (Dave Saxe) and Barnaby, played by David Newell.
Mueller brings a zesty comic sensibility to the leading man role. Dave Saxe and Newell provide laughs throughout the musical, set near the turn of the 20th century in New York City.
Bev Wehrheim shines as Irene Molloy. She owns a hat shop and seems hot to trot at the thought of hooking up with a potential rich husband — but not Horace.
Wehrheim expresses her longing about romance on the wistful, and bittersweet ballad, “Ribbons Down My Back.”
Irene tells her assistant – Minnie Fay played by Carol Wiltman – the ways to attract a couple of guys.
“We’ll get them all heated up and then drop them cold,” Molly says. “It’ll be good practice for married life.”
Turns out that Cornelius and Barnaby are the guys, and they try to trick Molly into thinking they have big money.
The pace quickens in the second half of the show. Wherheim, Wiltman, Newell and Dave Saxe offer a charming song and dance number, “Elegance.”
But the real show stopper comes – as expected – during the “Hello Dolly” number. Dolly is decked out in a red chiffon satin gown, covered with rhinestones, and a snaking long boa feather shawl. On top of her head is a multi-colored, oversized feathered hat, also featuring rhinestones. She moves down a stairway with grace and glitter.
Dellie Saxe is up to the challenge of this theatrical moment and delivers the iconic song with elegant chutzpah.
The dance ensemble as red-vested costumed waiters and restaurant workers add to the powerful scene.
Choreographer Cheri Lindell hit all the marks on this number. Specialty dancers included Bethie Charles, Amy Decesare, Kiera Manna and Melanie Perry-Makowski.
“Hello Dolly” is a landmark musical. The challenge is to keep it fresh and maintain the show’s kinetic pace and comedic flare. This Villages Musical Theater production meets that challenge.
Tony Violanti writes about music and entertainment for Villages-News.com. He was inducted into The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame as a music journalist.