Fiddler on the Roof

Tickets from $59  Buy Tickets

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Photo: Matthew Murphy

Cititour.com Review
Some theatergoers just automatically catch the latest revival of “Fiddler on the Roof,” the much-beloved musical adaptation of the stories of Sholom Alechem that first graced the stage in 1964. But if you’re wondering whether to break from that tradition – or even begin it -- just because you don’t speak Yiddish, don’t! In fact, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbeine’s production, which has moved uptown to Stage 42 after a six-month run last year in Battery Park City, may be the most moving version of this show I’ve ever seen.

Yes, some of the emotion that one feels comes from hearing the words of librettist Joseph Stein and lyricist Sheldon Harnick being spoken and sung in the native language of the Russian Jews who are the show’s main characters. (To be clear, the show is completely subtitled in English, as well as Russian) The sound of this unusual tongue lends an extra authenticity to the proceedings -- and works especially well for such characters as widowed matchmaker Yente (Jackie Hoffman, martini-dry and hilarious in any language) and sharp-tongued Golde (an excellent Jennifer Babak), the long-suffering wife of the show’s protagonist, the poor, sometimes frustrated yet always loving milkman Tevye (the extraordinary Steven Skybell).

Further, much more is gained than lost by the simplicity of the production, beautifully staged by actor Joel Grey and choreographer Stas Kmiec, both of whom honor the show’s original creator, Jerome Robbins, while making the work their own. Without needing to focus on huge set pieces or overelaborate musical numbers (fear not, the ever-amazing bottle dance still exists), one can more deeply appreciate the show’s story of an ordinary man who must adjust to drastic changes in his way of life – from letting his daughters choose their own husbands to eventually being forced to leave the village he’s always called home.

In many ways, I’ve never seen anyone bring Tevye to full-bodied life better than Skybell, who brings enormous dramatic depth to role. For example, he reduces us to tears as he says goodbye to daughter Hodl (a lovely Stephanie Lynne Mason) as she heads to Siberia to join her radical fiancé Pertshik (an appealing Drew Siegla) or when he finally shows a shred of a forgiveness to daughter Khave (a fine Rosie Jo Neddy) who has defied him in the worst way imaginable by marrying Russian non-Jew Fyedke (the strapping Cameron Johnson, who could be the poster boy for either Calvin Klein or the Aryan Nation).

Yet, none of this is to say that Skybell doesn’t capture Tevye’s more joyous moments, whether it’s dreaming of wealth (in the now-titled “If I Were A Rotschild”), getting drunk while brokering the (brief) engagement of eldest daughter Tsaytl (the charming Rachel Zatcof) to elderly butcher Leyser-Volf (a convincing Bruce Sabath) or relishing the moment when he realizes he’s succeeded in his scheme to convince Golde to let Tsaytl marry her true love, the tailor Motl Kamzoyl (a perfectly cast Ben Leibert). But he does all of this without indulging in the over-the-top theatrics that (while extremely entertaining) some of his more celebrated predecessors have brought to the role.

Most of the cast are stronger actors than singers, which coupled with the need to make the lyrics work in Yiddish, dilutes a little of the gorgeous melodies found in some of Jerry Bock’s tunes. Still, nothing can ever really diminish the beauty of such songs as “Far From the Home I Love” (“Vayt Fun Mayn Liber Heym”) or “Sunrise, Sunset” (“Tog-ayn,Tog-oys.”) And every number is brought to thrilling musical life by the wonderful orchestra conducted by Zalman Mlotek.

It may sound crazy (no?), but no matter if this your first visit to Anatevke or your tenth, a trip to this “Fiddler” will be a journey you will be very glad you went on!
By Brian Scott Lipton


Visit the Site
http://shubert.nyc/theatres/stage-42/

Cast
Steven Skybell, Jackie Hoffman, Jennifer Babiak, Joanne Borts, Michael Einav, Lisa Fishman, Kirk Geritano, Abby Goldfarb, Samantha Hahn, Cameron Johnson, John Giesige, Ben Liebert, Moshe Lobel, Stephanie Lynne Mason, Evan Mayer, Rosie Jo Neddy, Raquel Nobile, Jonathan Quigley, Nick Raynor, Bruce Sabath, Kayleen Seidl, Drew Seigla, Adam B. Shapiro, Jodi Snyder, James Monroe Števko, Lauren Jeanne Thomas, Bobby Underwood, Mikhl Yashinsky, and Rachel Zatcoff

Open/Close Dates
Opening 2/21/2019
Closing 1/5/2020


Theatre Info
Stage 42
422 West 42nd Street
Neighborhood: West 40s
New York, NY 10036
Map



Comments

^Top