Differences from stage version - Hello, Dolly! (1969) Discussion

[–] laurence01 17 years ago

The opening song was changed. The show opened with a song called "I put my hand in", the film song was "Just leave everything to me". Also a song called "Motherhood march" was removed completly.

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[–] DryToast 17 years ago

Also, the ballad "Love Is Only Love" is not in the stage version. (I believe it was written for the original stage version of Mame but was unused until a ballad was needed for Streisand in this film.)

"...so love has certainly taken the ginger out of her!"

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[–] justoldbill 17 years ago

Also, in the stage book, Cornelius and Barnaby's entrance into Irene's hat shop right before Vandergelder's is a total coincidence. In the film, Mrs. Levi has carefully orchestrated the whole thing. I suspect out-of-town book trimming accounts for the difference. In the film, Ernestina's last name is Simple, the Thornton Wilder original, I believe. I must confess I miss Michael Stuart's funnier Ernestina Money ("Her mother was a Cash, you know").

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[–] SRECCLES 17 years ago

The song "It Only Takes a Moment" takes place in a court room in the stage version. Dolly and Horace are both present in the scene too. In the movie, they are still at the restaurant at that point.

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[–] SilverCreedWolf 17 years ago

The song "So Long, Dearie" also takes place in the Courtroom Scene in the stage version. Dolly leaves Horace to sit in jail for the night. She really taunts him in that scene, more so than what Streisand did on film. Dolly's red dress in the stage version lends to that, don't know why it was changed to gold for the movie.

It's also important to note that there were several changes to the songs from the stage version that made it to the film. Verses were added to some, lyrics were changed in others. Also, Dolly's reprise of "It Takes A Woman" has been completely rewritten for Streisand. Dolly only hums a few short bars of it in the stage version.

You know what I think I'll do is give a synopsis of how the play is laid out for anyone wanting a quick reference in comparing it to the movie, especially those that might be in a production of it and have never seen it onstage.

ACT ONE
"Overture"......Orchestra (sometimes it is performed without this)

Scene 1: Streets Of New York City, and Grand Central Station
"Opening: Call On Dolly!"......Ensemble
"I Put My Hand In"......Dolly and Ensemble

Scene 2: Vandergelder's Hay & Feed, and Yonkers Depot
"Yonkers March"......Vandergelder, Ermengarde, and Men
"It Takes A Woman"......Vandergelder, Cornelius, Barnaby and Instant Glee Club
"It Takes A Woman Reprise"......Vandergelder and Dolly
"Put On Your Sunday Clothes"......Cornelius, Barnaby, Dolly, Ambrose, Ermengarde, The People Of Yonkers

Scene 3: Mrs. Molloy's Hat Shoppe, and The Streets Of New York City
"Ribbons Down My Back"......Irene
"Motherhood March"....Dolly, Irene, Minnie Fay, Cornelius, Barnaby, and Vandergelder
"Dancing"... Dolly, Cornelius, Barnaby, Irene, Minnie Fay, and Ensemble

Scene 4: In Front Of Ephraim's Abandoned Store, and The 14th Street Association Parade
"Before The Parade Passes By"......Dolly and Ensemble
"Act One Finale"......Dolly

ACT TWO
"Entr'acte"......Orchestra

Scene 1: In Front Of The Hoffman House Hotel, and In Front Of The Harmonia Gardens
"Elegance"......Cornelius, Barnaby, Irene, and Minnie Fay
"March To Harmonia Gardens"......Ambrose, Ermengarde, Vandergelder, and Ernestina

Scene 2: The Harmonia Gardens Restaurant
"The Waiter's Gallop"......Rudolph, Waiters and Cooks
"Hello, Dolly!"......Dolly, Rudolph, Waiters and Cooks
"The Polka Contest"......Ensemble

Scene 3: Courtroom and Jail
"It Only Takes A Moment"......Cornelius, Irene, and Prisoners
"So Long, Dearie!"......Dolly with Vandergelder

Scene 4: Vandergelder's Hay & Feed, and Wedding
"Hello, Dolly! Reprise"......Vandergelder and Dolly
"Finale Ultimo"...... Entire Company

Hope this helps someone in someway at some point! LOL!

JOE TYRIA
Creed Wolf Productions
Silver Creed Wolf Music (BMI)

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[–] stevenackerman69 17 years ago

Yes, the number "It takes a Woman" is done outside, with a joke about Vandergelder accidently patting a horse's rear as he explains something. Also, the number where Vandergelder is marched around Irene Molloy's hat shop is cut. And the "Moment" number is in a park, not a courtroom, plus in the "Elegance" number, I think some lines were added as well as Irene and Cornelius switching lines about holding a cup and keeping a pinkie up.

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DryToast 16 years ago

<<"Before The Parade Passes By">>

Wasn't that song written with some contribution from Charles Strouse?

"It is I! It is me! It is Carla Göteborg!"

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BarryTrexel 14 years ago

"Before the Parade Passes By" is a Jerry Herman song. Period! Strouse & Adams wrote a song by the same name, but it wasn't used. Strouse & Adams were called in to look at the show "Hello, Dolly" when it was out of town, but they never ended up contributing to the score. For their trouble, Merrick saw to it that they share the royalty of the song "Before the Parade Passes By' with Jerry Herman, but, once again, the song was all Jerry Herman.

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[–] vpilutis 13 years ago

One other item in the play the woman who Horace meets at Harmonia Gardens is played by a very heavy woman.
I met a lady who played the part in a road production of HD and also did
"Sound of Music" on the road she met the "Real Maria" who she said was a nut job.

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[–] scooterberwyn 12 years ago

Another change is that in the stage version, Vandergelder expects to meet Ernestina Money in the 14 Street Parade, because Dolly tells him that Ms. Money is on one of the parade floats. There's a 'bit' where he thinks that what is actually a manikin on the float is Ernestina, and when, after the parade, the workmen begin to disassemble the manikin, Horace starts to throw a fit. I like the film version better, where Dolly tells him at the parade that he will meet Ernestina at the Harmonia Gardens.

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[–] vpilutis 12 years ago

Right I recall that scene now. Plus a court rm scene later with
Cornelius Hackl & co and not a park scene

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[–] Harold_Robbins 16 years ago

"As a side note, I also love the songs written for Ethel Merman that were cut when Carol Channing was ultimately cast, "World, Take Me Back" and "Love, Look In My Window." Of course they were added back when Ethel Merman assumed the role in 1970 at the St. James Theater."

It was wise to cut them at the time, as Channing's voice was totally unsuited to them.

I was fortunate enough to see one of those Merman DOLLY performances at the St. James (where I'd already seen Pearl Bailey and Phyllis Diller). I've mentioned in a post elsewhere what a pity it is that Merman never recorded these songs with a full orchestra, but instead only with a piano accompaniment (it was done for a small recording label and sold in the St. James lobby), nor did she apparently ever include them in her many post-DOLLY concert appearances. She handled them very well (as she should have, since as you mentioned Herman wrote them with her in mind), and they represent some of her best late-career singing, these last two songs she introduced on Broadway, forty years after GIRL CRAZY.

"Somewhere along the line the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."

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[–] shandy8 15 years ago

What it must have been like to see 'The Merm" on Broadway. I am envious. I did see her at The Bowl one summer. though.

"What do you want me to do, draw a picture? Spell it out!"

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[–] movieghoul 13 years ago

I also saw it with Merman, and as a bonus, Danny Lockin was playing Barnaby.

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[–] vpilutis 12 years ago

As did I twice with two different dates.

I hate this business when they show the behind the scenes of HD some nonsense about waiting for the Broadway play to close before opening the film.
Both were running at the same time whats more there a note in Danny's bio in the PLAYBILL about his big smile having been in both at the same time.
Never understood the purpose of such a lie on the part of the film people.

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[–] RichN36 12 years ago

I have been lucky enough to have been involved with the Stage Version twice and each time I have fallen in love with the actress who played Irene Molloy. And this is also one of the rare Movie/Plays that I have enjoyed each version just as much even with the changes made. The most fun I have had even in extra/chores rolls.

There is more Gravy about you then the Grave. Scrooge.

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[–] lavignebiz1 9 years ago

I bought a CD of Hello, Dolly! several years ago and it is something of an essential recording. Not only does it have the original Cast Recording on it, but there are songs by Mary Martin, Ethel Mermen and Pearl Bailey on the CD, as well as interviews. One reason I bought it is because it has Merman doing World Take Me Back.

I've seen three Dollys. The first time, I had just graduated from High School and I saw Dorothy Lamour and Jack Bailey do Dolly at the Melody Top Theater in Milwaukee. She was superb, although we were hoping that Jack Bailey, at one point, would ask her if she wanted to be Queen for a Day.

After college, I saw Channing do it in Minneapolis. She was clearly bored and walked it. Eddie Bracken played Horace and essentially channeled Walter Matthau's performance. Lee Roy Reams was Cornelius, and was terrific in it.

The last time, Sally Struthers came to a Minneapolis suburb to open a semi-professional theater. Evidently, she had to fit rehearsals in between filming of The Gilmore Girls, and while it wasn't a bad production, she could have used at least another week's rehearsal. I may go to New York next year to see Bette Midler in Dolly, and am hoping that Imelda Staunton will bring her Gypsy to Broadway as well.

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