Dolly Gallagher Levi

Dolly Gallagher Levi
Dolly Gallagher Levi
Hello Dolly!
First appearance	The Merchant of Yonkers
Created by	Thornton Wilder
Portrayed by	See below
In-universe information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Matchmaker; Businesswoman; Dance instructor; Wedding planner; Mandolin teacher; French teacher; Cheese importer; Roof inspector; Bills collector; Beautician; Chef; Upholsterer; Social listener; Lobbyist; Investor;
Spouse	Ephram Levi (dec.); Horace Vandergelder
Religion	Catholic
Home	Yonkers, New York
Nationality	American

Dolly Gallagher Levi is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1938 play The Merchant of Yonkers and its multiple adaptations, the most notable being the 1964 musical Hello Dolly! Levi's main profession is matchmaking in Yonkers, New York. She also begins a romantic involvement with businessman, Horace Vandergelder, when she sends his niece on a date with a local town boy.

Character description

Plays

Dolly Levi is a "widow in her middle years who has decided to begin her life again. She is a matchmaker, meddler, opportunist, and a life-loving woman." She is from

downtown Yonkers

. During the story, she attempts to make him fall in love with her, though her attempts are mostly unsuccessful. She also constantly quotes her late husband's favorite saying:

Money is like manure. It's no good unless you spread it around.

Stage musical

Percy Waram and Jane Cowl as Horace and Dolly, respectively, in the Broadway production of *The Merchant of Yonkers* (1938)

During the first act of the musical, Dolly is still quite attached to her late husband, Ephram. However, during the act finale, "

Before the Parade Passes By," she decides to move on with her life and chase after Horace's affections. In the titular song, Dolly claims to the waiters of the Harmonia Gardens restaurant that she will never leave New York

again.

Musical film adaptation

While many portrayals of Levi in the musical are comedic and loving,

So Long Dearie

."

Notable portrayals

Jane Cowl in the original Broadway cast of The Merchant of Yonkers
Ruth Gordon in the original Broadway cast of The Matchmaker
Shirley Booth in the 1958 film adaptation of the same name

Hello Dolly!

Carol Channing in the original, third, and fourth broadway casts, first West End revival, and second national touring cast
Thelma Carpenter, Phyllis Diller, Betty Grable, Ethel Merman, Bibi Osterwald, Martha Raye and Ginger Rogers as replacements in the original broadway cast
Mary Martin in the original West End and first international touring cast
Barbra Streisand in the 1969 film of the same name
Pearl Bailey in the first Broadway revival^[a] and as a replacement in the original broadway cast
Danny La Rue in the second West End revival^[b]
Samantha Spiro in the third West End revival
Sally Struthers in the 50th anniversary tour
Bette Midler in the fourth Broadway revival
Bernadette Peters and Donna Murphy^[c] as replacements in the fourth Broadway revival
Betty Buckley in the first national touring cast
Carolee Carmello as a replacement for the first national touring cast
Imelda Staunton in an upcoming fourth West End revival^[1]

Notes

African-American
actress to play the role

^ La Rue was the first male actor to play the character in drag

^ Murphy only played Dolly at certain performances

Additions

Clips from the 1969 musical film were featured in the 2008 animated film WALL-E.

References

^ "The Queen Delays HELLO DOLLY!". londonboxoffice.co.uk. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.

Pearl Bailey as Dolly in the first Broadway revival, 1968.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dolly_Gallagher_Levi&oldid=1216640145"

[1] African-American
actress to play the role

[2] La Rue was the first male actor to play the character in drag

[3] Murphy only played Dolly at certain performances

[4] "The Queen Delays HELLO DOLLY!". londonboxoffice.co.uk. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.

[a]

[b]

[c]

[1]