The ‘Fiddler’ Tradition Lives On
REVIEW: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO
1964 was a great season for Broadway—it included Funny Girl, Hello Dolly!, Man of the Manchaand Fiddler on the Roof, the revival of which is having its Orange Country debut at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. It’s hard to believe that Fiddler is now fifty-five years old. Yet even so, this musical is no relic, and this new production directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher echoes that point. Sure, it’s a show that boasts a litany of catchy tunes (“If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “Tradition.” etc.), but it’s also more than that. Tucked neatly within the show’s inherent musical theatre schmaltz is a profound show whose themes are still relevant today regardless of culture, or time period.
Fiddler is one of those productions that doesn’t get performed very often mainly due to its large scale. This make this touring production even more of a rare treat. Director Bartlett Sher has assembled a Fiddler that ingeniously balances golden age traditions with contemporary styles. Visually the stage is given dimension with a brick pattern that’s placed on the back wall and in layers on the sides of the stage. Set pieces and props are always minimal, and are all incorporated manually, or using fly space–no projections here. Sher creates tableaus that are larger than life, but are also minimalist—it’s like watching a show inside a life-size diorama. Additionally, at the end he incorporates a silent man in contemporary clothes standing on the train platform alluding to the notion that the whole show is a memory.
Adding to the visual splendor is the choreography by Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter who takes inspiration from Jerome Robbins’ original choreography. The dance numbers such as “Tradition”, “To Life”, and “The Wedding” are all thrilling numbers that make you wish you were on that stage joining in on the fun. “The Wedding” scene is among the most exhilarating. Here we get a bevy celebratory dances that include a traditional “bottle dance” where performers dance while balancing a bottle on their head—amazing.
When it comes to Fiddler, it’s all about Tevye, the poor milkman with five daughters who test his faith from beginning to end. In this production he is played by Israeli actor Yehezkel Lazarov, and he is magnificent. Lazarov plays the quintessential everyman, we relate to him instantly and then he takes us deeper revealing his inner struggles that continue to plague him throughout. And when Lazarov finds moments of joy (“To Live” for example) his feelings are contagious, we are all happy with him—powerful acting. Tevye’s wife Golde (Maite Uzal) is another treat, she plays this sharp-tongued woman with conviction, speed and compassion—“Sunrise, Sunset” and “Do You Love Me” are some of the most touching moments in the whole show.
WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC DIRECTOR?
Music director Michael Uselmann leads the orchestra in a rousing performance that brings this heart-warming and classic score to life.
Now is your chance to see Fiddler on the Roof like never before, it’s an enchanting production that seen through our modern lens makes us think about the topics in the show as they apply to today. For example: Isn’t the modern-day “matchmaker” a dating app? Aren’t traditions being challenged every day? And doesn’t our faith seem to be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof? Though if we can learn anything from Fiddler, let it be that: if we all stick together perhaps our future will also be bright.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
May 7 – 19, 2019
Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.
The 2:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, May 18, 2019 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation.
TICKETS: Start at $29
The Box Office
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily SCFTA.org
(714) 556-2787
Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
(714) 755-0236
Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
