Hello, Dolly! – Lido 2, Paris

Caroline O’Connor stars in Hello, Dolly! at Lido 2, Paris. Picture: Julien Benhamou

Hello, Dolly! continues at Lido 2, Paris until 5 January 2025.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Following the productions of Cabaret and the lesser-known Forum last year, Jean-Luc Choplin has made a safer choice for his third in-house production at Lido 2 Paris with Hello, Dolly!, a classic Broadway musical that has seen multiple French productions, including a recent Belgian touring version.

Surprisingly, few remember the 1972 French adaptation at Théâtre Mogador starring the great Annie Cordy or the 1992 international tour with Nicole Croisille, which made a a stop at the Théâtre de Châtelet. This isn’t even the first English-language Dolly in Paris, and the title song has a rich history in France, with iconic recordings by Cordy and Petula Clark.

Interestingly, the recent London revival, directed by Dominic Cooke and starring Imelda Staunton, leaned towards Thornton Wilder’s original play The Matchmaker, downplaying the musical’s comedic elements. This contrasts with the 2017 Broadway revival starring Bette Midler, which embraced all the humorous aspects, including her memorable chicken-eating scenes, sadly absent from both London and Paris productions.

Like Choplin’s 2019 Funny Girl at Théâtre Marigny, this Dolly sticks to the original, to the great joy of purists, eschewing updates like restored songs or alternative openings. It’s a first-rate production unapologetically embracing its old-fashioned charm and allowing the audience to indulge in the nostalgia of a bygone era.

Caroline O’Connor, a Paris favourite from On the Town (2008) and Sweeney Todd (2011), both at Châtelet, who was already cast as the lead in the 2012 Leicester Curve revival (though she bowed out for another career move), was destined to play Dolly Gallagher Levi, capturing the character’s determination to matchmake for the miserly Horace Vandergelder. Her nuanced performance and vocal prowess shine throughout Jerry Herman’s glorious score, like it did in the West End production of Herman’s Mack & Mabel, adding layers of charm and complexity to the character.

Unlike Streisand with Walter Matthau in the movie version, O’Connor shares a convincing chemistry with Peter Polycarpou’s humane and humorous Horace. Monique Young brings grace and vocal brilliance to Irene Molloy. Carl Au delivers a solid performance as Cornelius Hackl and Reece McGowan’s charming Barnaby Tucker captures the character’s youthful innocence. Chrissie Bhima as Minnie Fay, Jordan Crouch as Ambrose Kemper and Jemima Eaton as Ermengarde round out the talented ensemble, each contributing a unique flair to the production.

As always, director/choreographer Stephen Mear adds a unique touch, including tap dancing in ‘The Waiter’s Gallop’, a nod to his acclaimed 2009 Regent’s Park production. Peter McKintosh’s stunning set and costumes, Tim Mitchell’s dazzling lighting and Nigel Lilley’s vibrant musical direction create a visually and aurally captivating experience, making every moment a feast for the senses – even during the intermission when we get the bonus treat of the theatre’s waterworks shooting from the ground!

Hello, Dolly! at Lido 2 Paris is a delightful treat for theatre lovers. This English language production allows the show’s original wit to shine through, while the iconic songs of Herman’s immortal score and Mear’s energetic choreography is sure to captivate audiences of all ages. It is truly a testament to the enduring power of Golden Age musical theatre, brilliantly brought to life by a cast and crew pouring their heart and soul into every aspect of the production. Well worth the trip across the Channel until the beginning of January and maybe longer.

Patrick Honoré