Based on Thornton Wilder’s play “The Matchmaker” the musical Hello, Dolly! was first staged in New York, January 16^th 1964. The stage production starred Carol Channing who made Dolly Levi into a household name. Later on a film version was made and the role of Dolly got played by Barbara Streisand who’s probably the one most known for the part today. Though Hello, Dolly! was not a huge success on film, it has been a very popular show and was a big stage success. The theme song Hello Dolly also became one of the most popular show songs of the era.

The story is about Mrs Dolly Levi, a matchmaker who decided widowhood had palled and her next client would be herself. With her mind set on Yonkers merchant Horace Valdergelder she puts her plan to action. He is visiting New York to march in a parade and he also drops by to look at the ladies in Dolly’s book. Dolly, a very convincing lady, manages to put him off everyone else and gets herself treated to a flash supper instead. Even though Horace is protesting, she manages to tame him into a proposal.

Also out on town the very same day are Vandergelder’s clerks, Cornelius and Barnaby. These two spend half their day trying to avoid their boss, but he seems to turn up everywhere they go. All thanks to the ubiquitously interfering Mrs Levi-Vandergeller they end up with a pretty pair of New York conquests on their arms and the prospect of less of a dogsbody life.

Jack was only 18 years old when he played Cornelius in Lausanne's production of Hello, Dolly! Pictured as Cornelius below with his opponant Barnaby. Jack to the left.

"Deux des boute-en-train du spectacle"