'Hello Dolly!' kicks off this week's shows on Cape stages

Cape Cod Times
Updated ·3 min read

Dazzled by the wonders of love and marriage, the people of New York City run to Dolly Levi, in the musical "Hello Dolly!" to help them meet their match. A matchmaker, a meddler and a widower, Dolly has a few tricks of her own up her sleeve to help those who rush to her in desperation and to help herself move on from the love she once had.

Gracing the stage at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, Holly Hansen as Dolly Levi dazzles alongside her costars, demanding the attention of the audience while giving off an effortless charm. If I wasn’t already taken, I’d be next in line for the matchmaking services of Dolly Levi.

Holly Hansen stars as Dolly Levi alongside Morgan Dexter as Ernestina Money and Jon Cornet as Ambrose Kemper in "Hello Dolly" at the Cotuit Center for the Arts.
Holly Hansen stars as Dolly Levi alongside Morgan Dexter as Ernestina Money and Jon Cornet as Ambrose Kemper in "Hello Dolly" at the Cotuit Center for the Arts.

'Hello Dolly!' dazzles audience at Cotuit Center for the Arts

Written and performed by: The iconic 1964 musical, written by Michael Stewart and composed by Jerry Herman, is brought to the Cotuit stage by director David McCarthy. Tedi Marsh and Liesl Crehan provide musical direction and Holly Hansen stars in the title role.

What’s it about: Widowed Dolly Levi has plans of her own when it comes to love lives. A matchmaker and a meddler, Dolly creates a bit of a mess, working to pair up a widowed milliner Mrs. Malloy (Kaleigh Mason) with the chief clerk (Drew Frayre) of a wealthy Yonkers businessman (Steve Ross) and to match up their assistants (Alex Tsourides and Max Dexter) all while ensuring she marries a half-millionaire herself.

Highlight of the show: Hats off to Mason for her heart-wrenching performance of “Ribbons Down my Back.” My heart broke for Mrs. Malloy as she yearns for true love again and Mason’s rendition, the power and sorrow in her voice, shattered it completely. I can still hear her singing it in my ears now.

Fun fact: In the 2017 Broadway production of “Hello Dolly!,” the charming Bette Midler played Dolly and took home a Tony award for her performance too.

See it or not: I don't care how you get there, by car, bus, or bicycle, everyone needs to go and see “Hello Dolly!” The show is a joy for theater lovers and first timers alike as Hansen turns heads as quickly as Dolly changes careers with the handing of a business card. Hansen garnered a standing ovation from the audience, myself included, at the end of the show — a very well deserved one too.

Worth noting: Due to the small size of the venue, the cast uses all of the room as the stage. I sat in the back of the orchestra and throughout the show had people running around behind me to get up to the stage. It’s impossible not to feel immersed in their world during the performance.

One more thing: Hansen, according to the program, has been dreaming of this role since childhood and boy does she bring that energy to the stage. Her love for the character and production is seen in every move she makes and lyric she sings. It’s hard not to love her as Dolly as much as she loves Dolly herself.

If you go: “Hello Dolly!” is on the main stage at the Cotuit Center for the Arts until Aug. 6. Tickets are $45 for the public, $35 for members, and $43 for seniors and veterans. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays 4 p.m. Sundays.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Reviews: Our critics offer a peek at shows hitting Cape Cod stages