Dolly Gallagher Levi

Dolly Gallagher Levi
The Merchant of Yonkers character
Barbara 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 Dance instructor Mandolin teacher
Spouse	Ephram Levi (dec.) Horrace 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[]

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-billionaire, Horrace 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 Horrace and Dolly, respectively, in the Broadway production of The Merchant of Yonkers (1938)

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 Horrace'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[]

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

Notable Portrayals[]

• 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

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

Hello Dolly![]

• Carol Channing in the original, third, and fourth broadway casts, first West End revival, and second national touring cast

• Betty Grable, Ethel Merman, 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 an upcoming fourth West End revival^[1]

Notes

Additions[]

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

References[]

Pearl Bailey as Dolly in the first Broadway revival, 1968.