Dolly Gallagher Levi

Dolly Gallagher Levi
The Merchant of Yonkers character
Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levi in the 1969 musical film 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

Main articles: The Merchant of Yonkers and The Matchmaker

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 Yonkers, New York and was married to Ephram Levi, who dies before the events of the story. She is loud, brassy, and constantly meddling in others' lives. These qualities make her beloved by her hometown. During one of her matchmaking jobs, she meets half-a-millionaire, Horace Vandergelder, who owns a store in 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)

Main article: Hello, Dolly! (musical)

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

Main article: Hello, Dolly! (film)

While many portrayals of Levi in the musical are comedic and loving, Barbra Streisand's concept of the character is more harsh to those around her, especially Horace (who is played by Walter Matthau). This feeling can be seen especially in the penultimate song, "So Long Dearie."

Notable portrayals

David Burns and Carol Channing as Horace and Dolly, respectively, in the original Broadway cast of Hello Dolly!, 1964

• 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 the fourth West End revival ^[1]

Notes

1. Bailey was the first 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

Additions

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

References

1. "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.