Diablo Theatre Company Delivers Another Fan Favorite with "Hello, Dolly!"

Last year, fans of Diablo Theatre Company (formerly Diablo Light Opera Company) voted Hello, Dolly! into the 2009 line up, and DTC doesn't let them down.

Set in 1900's New York, Hello, Dolly! is the touching and comedic tale of a charismatic, meddling widow and matchmaker who decides the time has come for her to find a match for none other than herself. Dolly (Terry D’Emidio) has her eye on the town's wealthiest eligible bachelor, Horace Vandegelder, but when Horace takes a liking to the local hat shop owner, Irene Molloy, it's clear that Dolly's meddling days are far from over.

Every member of the cast shines brightly in DTC's rendition of this classic, and D’Emidio is exceptional in the starring role. She not only has the voice, but a whirlwind enthusiasm that brings the audience along for the ride, which can be seen in full force in the first act finale, "As The Parade Passes By."

Curt Denham as the grumpy Horace provides an excellent foil to Dolly's charms, and just the right amount of "Bah, Humbug!" His clerks, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, played by Will Giammona and Andrew Willis-Woodward, respectively, create a wonderful comedic duo whose bumbling shennanigans serve as a key plot element.

While the performance is full of wonderful solos, the lovely voice of Rena Wilson (Irene Molloy) steals the show with "Ribbons Down My Back," a delicate song which adds a layer of sentimentality to an otherwise all-out farse.

Other highlight numbers include the impeccable chorus as they seem to effortlessly dance their way through "Put on Your Sunday Clothes," "The Waiters Gallop" (which involves an impressively synchronized array of waiters with serving platters), and of course, the titular number "Hello, Dolly!"

The performance is punctuated with colorful period costumes designed by MariAnna Ford and a visual cornucopia of three dimensional set pieces by Tri-Valley native set designer, Mark Mendelson.

Gaining a standing ovation from the audience, Diablo Theatre Company shows that even though their name has changed, their productions remain top-notch.

Hello, Dolly! runs through June 28th. For tickets call (925) 943-7469 or visit dloc.org/tickets.html.

Diablo Theatre Company, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek, (925) 943-7469, dloc.org.

 

Posted at 11:26 AM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink