Dolly Gallagher Levi

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-millionaire, 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.

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.

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

• Carol Channing in the original, third, and fourth broadway casts, first West End revival, and second national touring cast
• Thelma Carpenter, Phyllis Diller, Betty Grable, Ethel Merman, Bibi Osterwald, Martha Raye 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[lower-alpha 1] and as a replacement in the original broadway cast
• Danny La Rue in the second West End revival[lower-alpha 2]
• 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[lower-alpha 3] 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