Move Over Dolly, There's a New Dolly in Town

Allie Bugajski, Allie and the After Party

American Players Theatre Presents THE MATCHMAKER Review - Move Over Dolly, There’s A New Dolly in Town

TLDR: American Player’s Theatre’s production of The Matchmaker is a feel-good comedy that is sure to speak to many folks looking for a joyful night out. Tracy Michelle Arnold leads the cast as the inimitable Dolly Gallagher Levi who also makes sure they deliver on every comedic bit.

A Fiery Redhead Taking Charge

Said in the style of Stanley Tucci à la The Devil Wears Prada - give me Tracy Michelle Arnold playing the leading lady with a full skirt in a period piece and I’m on board. Arnold plays the larger than life Dolly Gallagher Levi in APT’s production of The Matchmaker and does so with effortless charm and levity. It’s like she always happens to be in the right place at the right time and enjoys every second of it.

As she walks through Mrs. Irene Molloy’s hat shop, noticing the two gentlemen hiding underneath the tables, she smiles widely at us audience members as she realizes the game that’s afoot. When she realizes who ended up with Horace’s missing purse, she makes sure to give it back to him at just the right moment. She takes note of every instance and adds it into her calculation until it all works out in her favor as if she planned it that way from the beginning. She’s the epitome of enjoying life and the moment when it happens

But then as everyone else leaves the stage, she takes a seat on a footstool and looks up to the heavens for a sign from her late husband. She delivers an aside to us getting to the heart of the matter and we see the vulnerability and why she’s back in society with full force.

Comedy is My Speciality

A fellow APT fan once told me while we were discussing their shows, “they always know how to do comedy well” and The Matchmaker is no exception. The cast milks each moment for all its worth. Josh Krause addresses the crowd after intermission while we’re all still milling about. He very sternly tells us to take our seats as an absurdly uptight maitre d. He’s joined by Ray Huth as his waiter who tries to keep everything running smoothly but ends up toppling over a table with silverware clattering everywhere. Triney Sandoval makes sure every section sees his face as he makes the “why I outta” grimace as he’s once again trying to reign in Cornelius and Barnaby (Colin Covert and Trevyn Wong). Phoebe González is a formidable force playing Irene ready to escape her station in polite society and also ready to break down some walls, sometimes literally!

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