Hello, Dolly!
at Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Reviewed on April 22, 2015

Sean Soper
Mater Dei High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Santa Margarita Catholic's 'Hello, Dolly!' is elegant fun!

After many years, Dolly Gallagher Levi is ready to "return to the human race" and get back into the matchmaking business. Horace Vandergelder (Evan Meeks) is seeking a new bride who's good at mopping floors and has employed the charismatic New York woman to find one for him. Unbeknownst to him, the all-knowing Dolly has plans of her own to marry him herself! And so begins Santa Margarita Catholic High School hysterical revival of the Broadway classic 'Hello, Dolly!" From top to bottom this amazing cast delivers a wonderful performance filled with pitch perfect vocals and sensational dance moves.

Andrea Martinez delivers a powerhouse performance as the exuberant matchmaker Dolly Levi. With standout vocals and superior acting skills to match, Martinez's Dolly is tantalizingly likable from the moment we first meet the self-proclaimed marriage "meddler" in the streets of New York. Martinez manages to play the larger than life character with refined elegance and class, brilliantly finding the perfect balance of sincerity and outrageousness. Martinez delivers her one-liners with precise comedic timing, and commands the stage every second she's on it without skipping a beat.

Supporting her is a stellar cast of performers who remain engaged and dynamic throughout. Ryan Melosini and Dylan Field play the adventurous store clerks Cornelius and Barnaby who first light up the stage with a playful rendition of the classic tune, "Put On Your Sunday Clothes." Field's engaging facial expressions accentuate his superb comedic timing, marking the highlight of his performance. Melosini's crisp baritone voice blends perfectly with Samantha Drust's beautiful soprano tone. Drust plays the widowed Mrs. Molloy, who falls victim to one of Dolly's matchmaking schemes and ends up with Cornelius. Drust displays her expertise through her distinct vocal choices, altering her pitch to transform herself into a late nineteenth-century woman.

As for the technical elements, the props, by Mackenzie Nienhuis and Leighton Holritz, display the immense creativity, versatility, and attention to detail of the production team. Most props are made from scratch and carefully designed down to the smallest detail, making the experience that much more believable for the actor as it is for the audience.

With a slew of outstanding lead performers supported by an ensemble dedicated to the art of storytelling, Santa Margarita Catholic's production of "Hello, Dolly!" is a pure success!

Jennifer Kaplan
Tesoro High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

An Exuberant "Hello!" from Santa Margarita

If you've ever needed dance instruction, mandolin lessons, or a new lover, there's only one person to see: Dolly Levi, spinster and unabashed Jill-of-all-trades.

Based on Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker" and set in turn-of-the-century New York, "Hello, Dolly!" follows Dolly's barging back into society to romantically pursue ‘half-a-millionaire' Horace Vandergelder. With flashy dance numbers and droll humor, Santa Margarita's production proves as elegant and complex as the titular Dolly herself.

Andrea Martinez's Dolly Levi surges full-throttle, electrifying every flick of her wrist, crystalline note, and confident stride. She's a firecracker in "Motherhood March", wherein she suggestively waves her hands in front of her chest in humorous pantomime of Horace's "rippling muscles", then links arms and physically drags both Horace (Evan Meeks) and Mrs. Molloy (Samantha Drust) into a vigorous march, ceaselessly beaming throughout. Later, as a reborn debutante during "Hello, Dolly!", she struts and sashays, her belt simmered to an elegant croon.

Yet Martinez's most revelatory performance is in subdued "Before the Parade Passes By", where her quavering voice stresses her heartache for her deceased husband, until she symbolically thrusts her arms open and marches forward in a crescendo of rebirth.

As yearning milliner Mrs. Molloy, Drust's straight posture and concernedly clasped hands softly counterbalance Dolly's brazenness. With head longingly tilted upwards and eyes dreamily glazed during "Ribbons Down My Back", Drust's mellifluous voices reveals her character's hopeful romanticism.

Displaying a gleam in his eye and bounding energetically, wholesome clerk Cornelius (Ryan Melosini) exudes a boyish, "aw-shucks" charm. He leaps atop the set, lunging forward towards an imaginary New York City, eyes shining with a hopeful glint. During "Dancing", Melosini teeters with endearing awkwardness, waving his arms wildly and stumbling backwards into friends' arms while attempting to ‘dance'. With his perpetually scrunched face and googly-eyed mock-grimacing, Cornelius's apprentice, Barnaby (Dylan Field), adds comedic physicality to their rapport.

With the cacophony of feathers, lace, and flowers bursting from the hats in Mrs. Malloy's shop, Leighton Holritz and Mackenzie Nienhuis's vibrant props rival even Dolly's vivacity. The team‘s plethora of handmade and edible food items also impresses, with the visual highlight a teetering, three-layer cake composed of painted hatboxes, clay frosting swirls, and a bevy of delicate roses.

With its glitzy, energetic songs and emotional performances, Santa Margarita's "Hello, Dolly!" reminds that it's never too late to start over- just ‘call on Dolly'.

Katie Van Horn
Mission Viejo High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

It only takes a moment to fall in love with Santa Margarita's Hello Dolly

It's the turn of the 19th century and all of New York is buzzing about the arrival of Dolly Levi, the exuberant matchmaker in search of her own companion. A hilariously unexpected series of events ensues as Dolly unfolds her plan to win over wealthy business owner, Horace Vandergelder.

Dolly Levi is played by the sprightly and endearing Andrea Martinez. Strutting about the stage with elegant confidence, Martinez reveals the duality of her character through witty remarks and touching monologues. Her brassy belt proclaims passion while gracefully poised physicality epitomizes her character's classy maturity. Dolly's grief over her late husband is manifested through Martinez's tender gestures and loving expressions.

Samantha Drust embodies the fun-loving and innocent spirit Irene Molloy. As Drust excitedly glides across the stage, she radiates elegance. Her wide eyes and adorably enthusiastic smile conveys Molloy's determination and desire for romance. Ryan Melosini, who plays Irene's love interest, shines as the goofy and loveable Cornelius. With an ever-present skip in his step, Melosini portrays the adventurous and hopeful attitude of Cornelius. As he sings the delightfully romantic "It Only Takes a Moment", Melosini exposes the hopelessly romantic side of Cornelius through tender expressions and delicate motions.

Another unforgettable character is the boisterous Ernestina Money, played by Hannah Rabatin. Large, outrageous movements and a raspy tone juxtaposes the elegant ladies seen throughout the play and introduces a new, fast paced, refreshing rhythm to the show.

Tying the show together is Santa Margarita's coordinated ensemble. Teamwork among the cast is apparent as members float on and off stage with ease, each still managing to keep an individual character.

The variety of colors and styles used for hair and makeup adds a sense of time period and social class while costumes effectively set location. Helping to move the show along are stage managers Patrick Carpenter and Taryn Mack. Their quick execution of set changes and timely cues create a fluid and fast-paced show.

The timeless story of Hello Dolly is brought to life, thanks to a skillful tech crew and a committed and talented cast.