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Matchmaker, The

  • Thornton Wilder
  • Full Length Play, Comedy, 19th Century
  • 9M, 7F
  • ISBN: 9780573612220

Loud, slap dash and uproarious...extraordinarily original and funny.

The New York Times

Rolls along merrily and madly and the customers are convulsed.

New York Journal American

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 19th Century
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Large Stage, Dinner Theatre, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, Outdoor, Reader's Theatre, College Theatre / Student
Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy merchant in nineteenth-century Yonkers, NY, decides to take a wife and employs a matchmaker, Mrs. Dolly Levi. Dolly subsequently becomes involved with two of Vandergelder's clerks, several lovely ladies, and the headwaiter at an expensive restaurant where this swift farce runs headlong into hilarious complications. After everyone gets straightened out romantically, Vandergelder finds himself affianced to the astute Dolly Levi herself.
REVIEWS:

Loud, slap dash and uproarious ... extraordinarily original and funny.

The New York Times

Rolls along merrily and madly and the customers are convulsed.

New York Journal American

The lines of Wilder are so often brilliant, sage, and witty.

New York Daily News
Premiere Production: The Matchmaker opened on Broadway on December 5, 1955 starring Ruth Gordon (Best Actress, Tony Award Nominee), directed by Tyrone Guthrie (Best Director, Tony Award Winner). The Matchmaker ran for 486 performances, Wilder's Broadway record, and closed on February 2, 1957. It was later adapted as the musical Hello, Dolly!

Characters

  • Casting: 9M, 7F
  • Casting Attributes: Reduced casting (Doubling Possible), Ensemble cast, Room for Extras, Parts for Senior Actors, Expandable casting, Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)

  • HORACE VANDERGELDER - a merchant of Yonkers
    MRS. DOLLY GALLAGHER LEVI - a friend of Vandergelder's late wife
    IRENE MOLLOY - a milliner
    MINNIE FAY - Mrs. Molloy's assistant
    CORNELIUS HACKL - a clerk in Vandergelder's store
    BARNABY TUCKER - an apprentice in Vandergelder's store
    ERMENGARDE - Mr. Vandergelder's niece
    MISS FLORA VAN HUSEN - a friend of Vandergelder's late wife
    MALACHI STACK
    AMBROSE KEMPER - an artist
    GERTRUDE - Vandergelder's housekeeper
    MISS VAN HUSEN'S COOK
    RUDOLF - a waiter
    JOE SCANLON - a barber
    AUGUST - a waiter

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Matchmaker, The Script Order Now

    A certain old merchant of Yonkers is so rich in 1800 that he decides to take a wife. He employs a matchmaker a woman who subsequently becomes involved with two of his menial clerks, assorted young and lovely ladies, and the headwaiter at an expensive restaurant where this swift farce runs headlong into a hilarious complications. After everyone gets straightened out romantically and has his heart's desire, the merchant finds himself affianced to the astute matchmaker herself. He who was so shrewd in business is putty in the hands of Dolly Levi. He is fooled by apprentices in a series of hilarious hide and seek scenes, and finally has all his bluster explode in his face.

    		$24.95

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