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The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker is a 1954 Broadway play by Thornton Wilder, a rewritten version of his 1938 play The Merchant of Yonkers.

This article is about the play. For other uses, see Matchmaker (disambiguation).

The Matchmaker

Thornton Wilder

1954

Broadway

New York City

Horace Vandergelder, a Merchant of Yonkers –

Loring Smith

a Friend of Vandergelder's Late Wife – Ruth Gordon

Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi

Irene Molloy, a Milliner –

Eileen Herlie

Minnie Fay, Mrs. Molloy's Assistant –

Rosamund Greenwood

Cornelius Hackl, a Clerk in Vandergelder's Store –

Arthur Hill

Barnaby Tucker, an Apprentice in Vandergelder's Store –

Robert Morse

Ermengarde, Mr. Vandergelder's niece, whom Ambrose wants to marry —

Prunella Scales

Miss Flora Van Husen, a Friend of Vandergelder's Late Wife –

Esme Church

Malachi Stack –

Patrick McAlinney

Ambrose Kemper, an Artist –

Alexander Davion

Gertrude, Vandergelder's Housekeeper – Charity Grace

Miss Van Husen's Cook – Christine Thomas

Rudolf, a Waiter – William Lanteau

Joe Scanlon, a Barber – Philip Leeds

August, a Waiter – John Mulligan

Adaptations[edit]

The 1958 film version, adapted by John Michael Hayes and directed by Joseph Anthony, starred Shirley Booth as Dolly, Anthony Perkins as Cornelius, Shirley MacLaine as Irene, Paul Ford as Vandergelder, and Robert Morse reprising his Broadway role as Barnaby.[4]


The story enjoyed yet another incarnation in 1964 when David Merrick, who had produced the 1955 Broadway play, partnered with composer Jerry Herman to mount the hugely successful, Tony Award-winning musical Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing.[5]


A film version of Hello, Dolly! was released in 1969 starring Barbra Streisand in the lead role.[6]

, 1981 farce by Tom Stoppard also based on the 1842 musical Einen Jux will er sich machen[7]

On the Razzle

at the Internet Broadway Database

​The Matchmaker​

by the Thornton Wilder Society

The Matchmaker Plot Summary and Critical Analysis