A Chorus Line by Christopher Verleger EDGE Contributor Saturday July 3, 2010

Hello, Dolly! continues through July 11 at Theatre By the Sea (Source:www.theatrebythesea.com)

Theater By The Sea’s stylish production of Hello, Dolly!, starring Tony winner Cady Huffman, is visually stunning, musically enchanting, and proof that this classic piece of theater is, as the title track states, still going strong.

With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, Hello, Dolly! premiered in 1964, went on to win 10 Tony Awards, and was the longest running Broadway musical of its time. Cady Huffman, who won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical as Ulla in The Producers (2001), steps into the iconic role of Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, most famously portrayed by stage legend Carole Channing.

Dolly, a late nineteenth-century New York society widow, makes it her business to meddle in the lives of others, or rather, as she puts it, someone who "arranges things." An expert at everything, with the cards to prove it, Dolly’s latest mission is to help unite the young starving artist Ambrose Kemper (Evan Price) with his beloved Ermengarde (Amanda LaMotte), who happens to be the daughter of the unscrupulous albeit wealthy entrepreneur Horace Vandergelder (Al Bundonis).

Horace loathes Ambrose, yet Dolly convinces the young couple that she can change his mind, all the while conspiring to become the next Mrs. Vangergelder. Much to Dolly’s chagrin, another widow is vying for Horace’s hand: hat shop owner Irene Molloy (Rebecca Barko). Furthermore, Irene is unwittingly about to be swept away by Cornelius Hackl (Jason Ostrowski) a Vandergelder employee who ends up in her shop with his co-worker, Barnaby (Jake Bridges), when the two spur-of-the- moment decide to take an unauthorized personal day.

Granted, it’s not Shakespeare, but the storyline is secondary to the delightful song and dance numbers (including the classic standards, "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," "Before the Parade Passes By," and "It Only Takes a Moment"), and each is a dazzling collage of color and contagious energy.

Kevin P. Hill’s direction is masterful and his choreography is both cunning and clever, particularly during "Waiters’ Gallop." Costume designer Lou Bird deserves special mention for contributing to the overall look of the production, which is stunning.

In a word, Huffman is divine as Dolly. Her portrayal is endearing, playful and mischievous, and her voice is especially charming. As her counterpart, Bundonis gives a mostly fine yet quiet performance in Huffman’s shadow.

The entire ensemble never fails to deliver and the supporting players shine just as brightly. Ostrowski is impressive at the love-struck Cornelius and Bridges is an absolute hoot as his scatterbrained partner-in-crime. Barko portrays Irene with elegance and subtlety, and Kelly Kantner gives a marvelous, scene-stealing performance as Minnie, Irene’s bubbly assistant.

Hello, Dolly! is a festival of fun, romance and enjoyment for the entire family.

Hello, Dolly! continues through July 11th at Theatre By The Sea, 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI. For more information, visit www.theatrebythesea.com

Chris Verleger is an avid reader, aspiring novelist and self-professed theater geek from Providence. Email [email protected].