Hello Dolly receives a mixed reaction

8:48am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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Hello, Dolly!, at Malvern Theatres until tomorrow, was a loud, lively and colourful production, packed with songs and slick dance routines and a smiling cast who looked like they were having fun.

Yet, despite all this, there was something missing and the show, for me, lacked the magic musicals are famous for.

There was nothing wrong with the acting or singing, or with the dancers or the orchestra. The costumes, which wouldn't have looked out of place in a panto, were glitzy and garishly bright and the set was traditional and beautifully painted.

It should have been entertaining but it just wasn't. The first half, in particular, seemed plodding and slow and there just wasn't enough of a story to keep my interest.

The songs, too, for me, simply weren't memorable, not even the supposedly famous Hello, Dolly! number.

It is essentially the story of a New York widow who matchmakes for others and herself by constantly interfering and although at the outset it seems everyone wants to marry for mundane and practical reasons rather than for love by the end it seems to be happy-ever-afters after all.

There are a few funny lines and farce-like scenes with mistaken identities and men hiding in cupboards but I didn't really understand Dolly's link with the restaurant and its staff or the relevance of the polka competition.

Hello, Dolly! just wasn't for me. Anita Dobson as Dolly Levi proved she could belt out a song and Darren Day was effortlessly at ease in his role as Cornelius Hackl but I just didn't find the musical interesting enough.

The audience, however, seemed to enjoy it, so if you love musicals don't be put off by my lack of enthusiasm.