Based on a story by Thorton Wilder, “Hello, Dolly!” tells the tale of matchmaker extraordinaire Dolly Levi (Peggy O’Connell) and her reluctant beau Horace Vandergelder (John Patrick Lowrie), a miserly, curmudgeon feed store owner. As Dolly cunningly carries out her scheme to win Horace’s heart, she also works her wily ways on all the other singletons she meets along the way. They include Cornelius (Michael Allen) and Barnaby (Casey Craig), a bumbling pair of clerks who work at Vandergelder’s store, Vandergelder’s plaintive niece Ermengarde (Greta Bloor) and her artist boyfriend Ambrose (Mo Brady), as well as hat shop owner Irene Molloy (Billie Wildrick) and her tittering assistant Minnie Fay (Shanna Marie Palmer). Love is in the air for all these folks, whose lives collide in New York City, where the adventure begins. The effervescent O’Connell is made for her role and commands the stage with an electrifying presence. She owns her character and rivals those great dames of Broadway who have played Dolly over the years, such as Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey and Ginger Rogers. O’Connell bubbles with enthusiasm and energy, belting out her numbers with pizzazz and passion. She wows audiences with her comedic and musical talent and sets the tone for the show from the moment she steps on stage. Every note she sings, every scene she’s in is touched by her special brand of magic and charm.

Though O’Connell is surrounded by an able cast, they are a tad overshadowed by her strong, magnetic presence. Lowrie is appropriately grumpy and gruff, but he seems to have a bit of a problem connecting to the other performers. He’s all bluster and mean-spirited for most of the show and it’s hard to understand why Dolly falls for him. Allen and Craig make a fun comedy team, as the rubes from Yonkers, who seek adventure in the Big Apple. Wildrick, in the role of the widow Irene Molloy, is all beauty and grace, with a lovely, sparkling voice to match. A tight ensemble of singers/dancers helps heat up the stage with Tomkins’ high octane, creative choreography. The show hits its highest points with “Elegance,” “The Waiters’ Gallop” and the show-stopping favorite, “Hello, Dolly!” Karen Ledger’s colorful period costumes complete the picture. The Village goes for the gusto with its revival production of this beloved musical and gives audiences a night of rousing, feel-good entertainment.

“Hello, Dolly!” runs through June 25 at the Village Theatre and from June 30-July 16 at the Everett Performing Arts Center. For ticket information, call (425) 392-2202 (Village) or (425) 257-8600 (Everett).