Patient audience gets their fiddler
August 6, 2008
St. Louis
Rain delays and intimidating lightening did not stop the performance of Fiddler on the Roof at the Muny Opera Tues. night. A waiting audience sprouted umbrellas under rain clouds and huddled under nearby pavilions. The show began at about 9:30 p.m. to the good-spirited crowd.
The story is about Tevye (a poor milkman with five daughters), his family and the Russian village of Anatevka in 1905 as they grapple with timeless issues of “change” versus “tradition.”
Tevye (played by Lewis J. Stadlen) converses, as he traditionally does, to God. A few times during the first act, it appeared that God answered back in the form of thunder rumblings. Threats of stormy weather finally tamed and the performance was a joy.
In the story, the villagers would like to think they reside too far away to be affected by changes in the world, but their village is attacked by a demonstration and, because of an edict from the Czar, they are forced from their homes.
During this same period, Tevye’s three oldest daughters disregard Yente the matchmaker’s advice and choose husbands for themselves. Tevye struggles to be a compassionate papa while keeping peace with his wife and villagers.
Basically, Tevye tries to reconcile the unavoidable changes in the world with the traditions of his faith--all while clinging to the proper Papa’s appearance as family decision maker.
A lithe fiddler sometimes accompanies the scenes, as a nagging reminder of tradition. Tevye sometimes brushes the fiddler aside, while choosing which traditions to embrace and which to let go.
Life for the families is as unstable as the perch of a fiddler on the roof, but as they are forced leave the town of Anatevka, the nimble fiddler is relieved to be invited to continue with Tevye’s family, on their new journey.
There were many comedic moments as the script reflects timeless human nature. Yente is the town gossip and the elderly Rabbi is adorable, however, not too terribly alert.
Songs included “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “If I Were a Rich Man.” The folk dancing numbers were fun to watch, especially the bottle dance.
Fiddler on the Roof will be performed at The Muny Opera in Forest Park through August 10. Showtime is 8:15 p.m. See The Muny website for ticket information.
Partial cast listing:
Tevye, Lewis J. Stadlen
Golde, Leslie Denniston
Tzeitel, Jennifer Lorae
Hodel, Kate Manning
Chava, Jacqui Polk
Shprintze, Berklea Going
Bielke, Tara Willey
Yente, Barbara Minkus
Motel, Robb Sapp
Perchik, Colin Donnell
Lazar Wolf, James Anthony
Mordcha, Rich Pisarkiewicz
Rabbi, John Freimann
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