**** If you have read my previous reviews of this wonderful play, or heard us discuss on the radio show, you know how difficult it can be for me, to be an audience member. After all, I played Tevye in my onstage years and have performed “Rich Man” on several stages, night clubs and even at my wedding reception, so I look at every production in a special and unique way. I have seen many renditions and interpretations of this powerful story based on the books of  Shalom Alechem, with a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The most recent production, last year at Drury Lane was a unique interpretation using little set and no props. I found it to be lacking something and was grateful to hear that Music Theater Works had hired Walter Stearns to be its director ( I knew that the tradions of “Fiddler” would fall into place under his hand), and to handle the music, Eugene Dizon.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this theater company, they have been around for a long time ( formerly they were Light Opera Works), but the key has always been quality musicals with large orchestras, making the music sound the way it was written to sound. Under the leadership of Walter & Eugene, I expected a great deal, and was sure that they would follow what the world has known “Fiddler” to be. They did! Add the slick choreography by Maria Lampert and a set designed by Bob Knuth ( that was both simple and workable) and thank God for Ab Rieve who handled the props. This play works best with props!

Casting a huge show such as this cannot be easy. I know that when I did the show, finding just the right people is not as simple as it sounds. Many people think that doing “Fiddler” is simple- just find a lot of Jews who sing. This is not the case! What you need is a cast of actors ready to learn about traditions and customs as well as some history of what took place at the time. Stearns did a great job. I am always critical when looking at Tevye, as I know the role inside out. I was impressed with the way Sam Nachison interpreted the role and his development of the character. Too many actors try to imitate what they see in either the film or in what Zero Mostel brought to the stage. Tevye is a good man, around 40ish who follows what he was taught and lives how he was told. Nachison was right on.

His wife, Golde ( played to perfection by Mitzi Smith) was a joy to watch, and while my Golde was a dream, I think I would have loved to have Ms Smith do the role with me. The daughters in this cast were powerful and understood the differences in their relationships with the love interests as well as what was happening in the world around them. This was a time when the Russian Soldiers were sending the Jewish population away. There were pogroms and as the story unfolds, we the audience see how in a short period of time, Tevye and his family experience many changes in their lives and of those around them. Two of the daughters are very young and they are saved for another story. Shprintze ( Aubrey Rosenthal) and Bielke (Adeline Rosenthal) are adorable and do their roles just right. It is the three eldest ( they sing “Matchmaker”) who we watch develop and meet their love interests. Tzeitel ( Madison Uphoff) is in love with Motel, the tailor ( deftly handled by Nathan Kabara), and despite the tradition of a matchmaker arranging a wedding, convince Tevye that they are meant to be. This is the first step in many to come of breaking tradition!

The second daughter, Hodel ( played to perfection by Elissa Newcorn) finds her love with Perchik (Jacob Simon) who is somewhat of a radical , but teaches her new meaning to life and love. The third daughter, Chava ( Madison Jaffe-Richter) finds herself meeting and falling for a soldier, Fyedka ( Jake Mickel) and leaves her family to do so. Tevye has no choice but to declare her dead ( in his eyes and that of his faith) but later in the second act, when they all must leave “Anatevka”, he learns that they are also leaving, and based on the last conversation one can only hope that one day, in the future, they will reconnect.

The music that moves this story along is very memorable. Many who have never seen the play, still know the songs: Matchmaker , Matchmaker”, “To Life”, Sunrise,Sunset” and “Far From The Home I Love” ( MsNewcorn truly nails this one). The characters are often played as carictachures. Lazar Wolf, the butcher ( David Servello played him as a true loner), Yente, the Matchmaker (Sara Stern made her almost human and did a terrific job of keeping her real) and one must always remember The Fiddler ( Emily Fisher). For those of you who are not aware of the role of The Fiddler, this character represents “Tradition”, and is the symbol for same. At the very end, as all of the characters leave their village, Tevye stops his cart and waves the Fiddler to join him. This is his way of saying, we may be foced to start anew, but we will take our traditions with us!

Walter, you nailed it. The only question I had was having some characters stay on stage when they were not a part of the scene. People around me asked why they were there? I am sure you had a reason, and I for one would love to hear the answer! By the way, the “Bottle Dance” during the wedding scene is magnificent, and the ensemble does a wonderful job. The run time is pretty close to three hours including one intermission, but it moves quickly and is worth it.

 

“Fiddler on the Roof” will continue Thru – Aug 17th with performances as follows: