Despite voice problems with lead actress Simone Kleinsma who threatened to throw a spanner in the works, the new Dutch version of the musical experienced Hello Dolly Sunday’s premiere. The reviews are enthusiastic about Kleinsma’s play, but critical about the story and the old-fashioned nature of the musical.
de Volkskrant – three stars
“In the new Dutch version of the musical, Simone Kleinsma approaches the role of Dolly more modestly, more as it is intended: charmingly played and well sung and danced. Paul de Leeuw as Horcus does not play too much over the top.”
“That makes it even more striking how old-fashioned Hello, Dolly! is. There is a lot of humorous humor with shop assistants hiding in the cupboard or diving under the table. Jan Rot provided a mostly inventive translation, but with archaic words such as “stoethaspels”, “party clothes” and “tabee” he does a scoop on top of the old-fashioned feeling. “
The full review the Volkskrant read here.
AD – three stars
“Is Hello Dolly! a fantastic performance by Simone Kleinsma’s play, dance and singing? No! For that, the story – the matchmaker takes a rich man in a few detours – is far too skinny, even trivial. “
“The absolute low point is a ridiculous gathering of the whole company in a hat shop. Just when you think ‘oh no, don’t hide in a cupboard or under the table’ exactly what you fear happens. After the break there is similar hysterical slapstick in a restaurant.”
“Also the otherwise stylishly acting Freek Bartels can be carried away as a clerk in the store of Ten Gelder in that uplifted atmosphere. Unfortunately, Paul de Leeuw is also not comfortable in his role as a nasty and stingy millionaire. His game remains unsatisfactory between kiddy and serious.”
The full review AD read here.
Theater newspaper – does not give stars
“Director Glenn Casale has managed to call up the grandeur of Broadway in a meticulous way without breaking through. Only with the constantly whining girl Geraldien does he miss the mark; something that might comic relief should have been getting curled up there. “
“All in all, the Michael Stewart script doesn’t have a lot to do with it, but at the latest everything has been taken out for this production. Hello Dolly capitalizes on a sense of nostalgia: both to it fin de siècle in which the story is situated, as if from the heyday of the Broadway musical. In all respects – decoration, performance, music and story – this production approaches Hello Dolly the classic kind of musical comedy from the fifties and sixties. “
The full review Theater newspaper read here.
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