Interview: Hello Dolly!

By Sean Lynch

Hello Dolly

Hello Dolly is an instant musical classic - one of the greatest of all time - now Melbourne based director Stephen Valeri is giving his own spin on the classic tale.

Hello Dolly is such an iconic production, is there any trepidation as to how the public will react to your interpretaion of the material?

I think the fact the this show is such a well loved and iconic piece of musical theatre only adds to my excitement, rather than trepidation, of what the public will think of our offering.

I will admit that it is quite a daunting task to direct a production of such a well known classic, because there isn't really a lot of room to toy around with things. We've certainly taken a traditional approach to our production, whilst trying to keep it fresh.

Hello, Dolly! has a very disctinct style and form, so we've tried to stay as true to that as possible.

What surprises can we expect?

In terms of the production, we've really tried to stay as true to the form as possible - so not a lot of surprises, really! We've really focused on bringing these somewhat larger than life characters to life on the stage, without falling into the easy trap of simply creating a charicature.

Visually, we have created a lavish and fresh new look and put our very own stamp on the show - the design concept is rich in colour, texture and bold new ideas.

Something that audience members may be a little surprised about is the sheer amount of young talent represented on stage!

How does this style of show compare to others (in terms of directing) for you?

As this is the first full scale musical I've directed, I can't really compare it to much else! 

I worked as an assistant director for ARC's 2009 production of West Side Story and this show differs greatly. West Side is another iconic musical, but it follows a very dramatic plot and is ultimately a tragedy - which Hello, Dolly! certainly is not.

Dolly really is a fun, old school broadway show - it's got everything - the catchy show tunes, the dance breaks, the flash costumes and the big characters.

What's your greatest challenge as a stage director?

I think my greatest challenge working on this piece has been co-ordinating such a large group and making sure everything runs to schedule. It has been a bit of a challenge to organise a group of 36 cast members, as well as an artistic team - but we've managed to get there...

Even if I have become a very stressed and tense 20 year old!

If you could direct any musical, what would it be?

I don't think I could narrow it down to one. There are so many musicals I'd love to direct in the future for so many different reasons. I'm a big sucker for old school shows just like Dolly, so Guys and Dolls is a favourite. But I also really like a lot of the new stuff - Spring Awakening would also be very high on the list.

Have you ever / ever wanted to venture on stage in front of the crowd?

I've been a performer for most of my life, so directing has certainly been a new venture. I'm most comfortable on the stage, but it's been a great experience to be able to sit on the other side. There's so much more to think about as a director, and it's a huge challenge.

Do you think a successful show means more to you as a director or the performers?

I think a show always has varying levels of significance to all the people that are involved in the different aspects. For a cast member, a lot of their success is based on their own individual performances - if they are satisfied with the way they have performed, they will certainly feel a sense of success.

For a director, there is a lot more of an opportunity at the end of the process to enjoy the work you have created successfully.

There are some legendary songs in Hello Dolly! - have you got a personal favourite?

Hello, Dolly! really is a show full of show-stoppers! There are way too many great songs to pick out a favourite. I love the big ensemble numbers like "Sunday Clothes" and "Before the Parade Passes By", but there are also some really great individual songs - Dolly singing "So Long, Dearie!" has always been a highlight, as has "Elegance".

There are way too many great songs to choose from!

Directors shouldn't play favourites - but they do - have you found yourself enjoying a particular character or actors performance for this show more than others?

In all honesty, it would be almost impossible for me to pick a favourite character or performance within this show. The amount of talent presented on stage is astounding. Our principal characters really could not be any more suited to their roles - they all bring such great energy to this production and are all so committed to their characters.

I really couldn't pick one - so instead, I pick my favourite for the day at the end of every rehearsal!

The most important thing to remember as a director is....?

Well, my university lecturer for Directing would say "Never have a script in your hand whilst your actor is performing!". But I think the most important thing about directing is balance. Being able to keep a cool, calm and collected front, whilst balancing that with a healthy amount of pressure and stress. Balancing between pushing for the best possible results, and allowing your cast to create their own performances, in their own time.

It's all about balance!

Finally, in a world where the internet is rife with rumours, we thought we could at least give the stars the opportunity to make on up about themselves.  So, starting here, whats a "Richard Gere Gerbil" styled myth you would love to spread about Stephen Valeri?

So Apparently, after Hello, Dolly! finishes, Stephen is going on tour with his assistant director Nathan Slevin, where together they will perform Hello, Dolly! (in it's entirety!) as a 2-Man-Show!

FOR TICKET AND BOOKING INFORMATION : HELLO DOLLY!