‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: The West End cast. Photo: Johan Persson

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Book by Joseph Stein
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on the Sholem Aleciheim stories
Directed by Trevor Nunn
Choreographed by Matthew Cole
Originally directed & choreographed by Jerome Robbins
Playhouse Theatre
Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5DE
https://fiddlerwestend.com/

By David NouNou

I am one of the few remaining people (still alive to talk about it) who saw the original version of Fiddler On the Roof in September 1964 when it opened with the one and only Zero Mostel. I can honestly say that I had no real sense of what the show actually meant, why the critics raved about it at the time or it’s universality. It lacked the razzle-dazzle of the musicals I was accustomed to like Hello, Dolly or Funny Girl. However, it did touch on a nerve that this musical, like no other, was about my Jewish heritage and the customs I was used to since birth.

Since then, I have been yearning to see a production that would explain to me its universality and adoration from its admirers. Of course, I knew the score by heart and its songs have been sung by every major artist of the day. There is the gritty 1971 film version with the over-the-top performance by Topol. Countless revivals on Broadway and elsewhere: one with Topol even more over-the-top in 1991, the misguided 2004 version with a miscast Alfred Molina, and the abysmal 2016 version with Danny Burstein. When my editor asked me to review this version in London, I was hesitant because I’ve seen so many disappointing revivals, but I went anyway and am so glad I did. Lo and behold, here is the “miracle of miracles,” that revival I have been yearning for since childhood.

You might ask yourself what makes this version so special? I’ll tell you in two names: Trevor Nunn, the director and Robert Jones, the set designer. What they have done is captured the heart and soul of the village of Anatevka. Most directors and designers create the set in an abstract form or representational, this is mostly to cut corners and they know the audience is familiar with the material and will use their imagination to fill in the rest, thus robbing the audience of the full immersive experience. Robert Jones has created the best conceivable set, capturing the essence of Anatevka, a small claustrophobic village where everyone knows each other’s business. He built the homes around the village square where everyone congregates and then goes to their homes. After all, Anatevka is this tiny village in early 1900s Tsarist Russian-controlled Ukraine, and it was a tiny dot on the map and now gone. In that village lived an array of put-upon, downtrodden people but they always seemed to be hoping for the best.

The story centers on Tevye (Andy Nyman), a poor milkman who lives in Anatevka. He has five unmarried daughters, a shrewish wife, Golde (Tania Newton), a lame horse and has a penchant to talking to God about his misfortunes. The one thing that has kept Anatevka going for all these years is tradition (no one knows how these traditions started, but they exist) and Tevye has to watch each tradition that he holds sacred unravel. Therein lies the beauty and texture of the family dynamics and Tevye’s turmoil of upholding his covenant with God and his religious beliefs, versus his love for his daughters having to watch his three eldest daughters marrying in nontraditional ways especially when his third daughter, Chava, marries the Russian Orthodox Christian soldier, Feyedka.

In Andy Nyman you will not be getting a bombastic, “bigger than life,” argumentative Teyve. You’ll be getting a sweet interpretation of a man who speaks to God in a gentle manner and gingerly admonishes God about couldn’t He just once throw him a little extra his way as in the song “If I Were A Rich Man”? What he lacks in being bigger than life, he makes up for with his rendition of his songs. He has a remarkable voice and his interpretation of “Tradition” and “Chavaleh (Little Bird)” is flawless and heart wrenching.

Unfortunately Judy Kuhn finished her run as Golde the week before we saw the show. At the performance we saw, Tania Newton brilliantly played Golde. Ms. Newton’s portrayal of Golde is the quintessential earth mother. Tevye’s Daughters: Tzeitel, (Molly Osborne), Hodel (Harriet Bunton) and Chava (Nicola Brown) are all a constant delight with their angelic voices. Broadway and Olivier Award-winning West End veteran Maria Friedman has now taken over the role of Golde.

Now, let’s discuss the second man who worked on this glorious production, director Trevor Nunn. With the aid of set designer Robert Jones, they brought to life this miracle village with its glorious characters: Lazar Wolf, the butcher (Dermot Canavan), Motel (Joshua Gannon), a tailor who wants to marry Tzeitel, Tevye’s oldest daughter. Perchik (Stewart Clarke), a revolutionary student who wants to marry Hodel and of course, Yenta, the matchmaker (Louise Gold). Where in previous presentations, these characters became caricatures; in this environment they are real, breathing souls from the past. The recreation of the marriage scene between Motel and Tzeitel, where the entire cast sings “Sunrise Sunset” under the chuppah tied to the four corner wooden posts had me in tears; it was exactly the same as my marriage to my partner of 16 years in 2017, presided over by a female rabbi (I’m sure that would have been a most unconventional tradition). Nothing will prepare you for the finale of the heartbreaking rendition of the song “Anatevka” started by Tevye and filing in a member or two at a time of the cast carrying their meager belongings, as they are now singing of their beloved village which they are being ousted from; and how precious this village was to them at one time. As the entire cast engulfs the village square singing their village anthem with just voices and no musical accompaniment, their voices ascend to a musical gut-wrenching crescendo.

It is at that moment you see all the joys and heartaches of life merging into one. After 55 years of waiting, I have finally seen the definitive revival of Fiddler on the Roof. L’Chaim!

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published June 25, 2019
Reviewed at performance in London on June 13, 2019

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Dermot Canavan & Andy Nyman. Photo: Johan Persson

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (left to right) Harriet Bunton, Nicola Brown & Molly Osbourne. Photo: Johan Persson

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Dermot Canavan & Andy Nyman. Photo: Johan Persson

The post ‘Fiddler on the Roof’: London revival one of best ever appeared first on StageZine.

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Laura Benanti & Zachary Levi. Photo: Joan Marcus

SHE LOVES ME
Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Choreography by Warren Carlyle
Directed by Scott Ellis
Through June 12, 2016
Studio 54
254 West 54th Street
(212-719-1300), www.RoundaboutTheatre.org

By David NouNou

An exquisite, delicious bon-bon of a musical.

In October of 1963 when She Loves Me opened, it hardly made a ripple and barely lasted nine months. That was still the era of the super spectacular musicals. Two dynamic divas were waiting in the wings. Carol Channing opened in January 1964 in Hello, Dolly! and Barbra Streisand torpedoed in March as Funny Girl. What chance did poor David have against two Goliaths?

Thanks to the impeccable taste of the Roundabout Theatre and Scott Ellis, who manage to resurrect these lost gems (last year the glorious revival of On the Twentieth Century), they have brought to life She Loves Me for the second time. The first was in 1993, and the current incarnation is even more delectable.

Set in the summer of 1934 Budapest in and around Maraczek’s Parfumerie, David Rockwell’s gorgeous sets transport the viewer to another world where life was gentler and shopping was an actual experience; where people waited on you and said, “Thank you, please come again.” On this particular day in this lovely store, there is a store manager, Georg Nowack (Zachary Levi) and a young lady, Amalia Balash (Laura Benanti) who is applying for a position as a salesgirl. Needless to say, there is an instant dislike and hostility in their relationship. As chance would have it and unbeknownst to either one, both have pen pals named “Dear Friend.” If this plot sounds familiar, it is. It was first done as a movie in 1940 by the name of The Shop Around the Corner and remade in 1998 as You’ve Got Mail, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

In this store there are a delightful array of characters: the mantrap, Ilona Ritter (Jane Krakowski), her on again/off again philandering boyfriend, Steven Kodaly (Gavin Creel); the store owner, Mr. Maraczek (Byron Jennings), fellow clerk, Ladislav Sipos (Michael McGrath); and the delivery boy, Arpad Laszlo (Nicholas Barasch). I mention all these characters because they are integral to the story. Back then, they actually wrote songs for all the supporting players and the entire cast have so many moments in which they can shine.

Scott Ellis has polished this gem into a brilliant diamond and set it with an incredible cast. Laura Benanti as Amalia is enchanting. Her soprano voice is reminiscent of Barbara Cook’s (who originated the role of Amalia) and Ms. Benanti’s rendition of “Ice Cream” brings back memories of the great Ms. Cook. Zachary Levi proves he is a masterful musical leading man. He doesn’t rely on just his good looks; he actually is a singing actor.

It’s so great to have Jane Krakowski back on Broadway. She has been in TV land way too long. She is in great voice, with legs to die for and you’ll see why, and gives a much-needed sexiness to Ilona that no other actress has given her. In contrast to Ilona, Kodaly has to be smarmy and debonair, but Gavin Creel plays him slick and lackluster. I’ll insert a factoid here: the only Tony Award Hello, Dolly! lost in 1964 was for best musical supporting actor to Jack Cassidy as Kodaly. No one could do sleazy, smarmy and debonair like the late Mr. Cassidy could and still be loveable. Michael McGrath and Byron Jennings are two Broadway veterans that add humor and class to any show they are in. Nicholas Barasch as Arpad is just bursting with glee.

Other than the title song “She Loves Me” and “Ice Cream,” none of the other songs in this show ever caught on. There are a lot of charming songs for the individual characters, thus they get diluted. However, it is still a delightful score. You would never have known back in 1963 when you were leaving the Eugene O’Neill Theatre after a performance of She Loves Me that the very next year, 1964, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick would introduce the world to not only one of the greatest scores, but to one of the greatest musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof. Both shows deal with the foibles, loves and humanity of its people; She Loves Me on a small scale and Fiddler on a universal scale.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published March 23, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on March 22, 2016

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Gavil Creel & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Gavin Creel & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Gavin Creel & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Laura Benanti & Jane Krakowski. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Zachary Levi & Michael McGrath. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘SHE LOVES ME’: Laura Benanti. Photo: Joan Marcus

The post ‘She Loves Me’: A resplendent revival appeared first on StageZine.

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Danny Burstein as Tevye. Photo: Joan Marcus

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Book by Joseph Stein
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on the Sholem Aleichem stories by special permission of Arnold Pert
Directed by Bartlett Sher
Choreographed by Hofesh Shechter
Broadway Theatre
1681 Broadway at 53rd Street
(212-239-6200), http://fiddlermusical.com

By David NouNou

If you are one of the lucky people (still around to talk about it) who saw the original version in September 1964 when it opened at the Imperial Theatre with the one and only Zero Mostel, you knew there was a masterpiece for the ages unfolding in front of your very eyes. Over the years, there have been numerous revivals, and some versions, as well as some Tevyes, were better than others. However, in the case of Fiddler on the Roof, what stands the test of time is its eternal and universal story and the sublime score that is joyously giddy, and absolutely heart wrenching and always memorable. I maintain that it is one of the two most outstanding scores ever written for a musical.

Tevye (Danny Burstein) is a poor milkman who lives in Anatevka, a village in Czarist Russia. He has five unmarried daughters, a shrewish wife, Golde (Jessica Hecht), a lame horse, and has a penchant to talking to God about his misfortunes. The one thing that has kept Anatevka going for all those years is tradition and Tevye has to watch each tradition that he holds sacred unravel. Therein lies the beauty and texture of the family dynamics and Tevye’s turmoil of upholding his covenant with God and his religious beliefs, especially when his third daughter Chava (Melanie Moore) marries the Russian Christian soldier, Fyedka (Nick Rehberger).

When you watch Fiddler on the Roof, you must really forget about past revivals, who starred in them and especially the movie version. Any Fiddler revival has to be strong enough to sustain itself for the new generation who may be seeing it for the first time. I was so pleased that so many young people who were attending the same press performance as me seemed genuinely intrigued and heartily enjoying the proceedings. Not one of them was texting or had his cellphone on. They were actually engrossed. Mazel tov.

With Danny Burstein, we do not get a bombastic, bigger-than-life, argumentative Tevye. We get a sweet interpretation of a man who speaks to God in a gentle manner and gingerly admonishes God about why couldn’t He just once throw a little extra his way as in the song “If I Were a Rich Man”? Incidentally, Mr. Burstein is in phenomenal voice. What he lacks in “bigger than life,” he makes up for with his rendition of his songs.

Jessica Hecht as Golde is the weak link; her accent comes and goes, and she’s not really a singer and turns in a one-note shrew performance with no shadings. The rest of the townspeople are portrayed more as caricatures than real human beings. Tevye’s Daughters: Tzeitel, (Alexandra Silber), Hodel (Samantha Massell) and Chava (Melanie Moore) are a constant delight with angelic voices.

Bartlett Sher for his part has done magnificent revivals of South Pacific and earlier this year the sublime The King and I. However, the brilliance that is usually associated with Mr. Sher seems to be lacking here. The direction is uneven with both the actors and the events taking place on the stage.

When you see Fiddler, you don’t sweat the small stuff; you go and marvel at its universality and how it has been embraced all over the world. At one time there was even a Japanese version. We never tire of its wonderful, timeless themes.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published January 6, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on January 5, 2016

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (left to right) Lori Wilner, Jessica Hecht & Danny Burstein. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (left to right) Adam Kantor, Alexandra Silber, Jennifer Zetlan (arm), Lori Wilner, Jacob Guzman, Adam Grupper, Reed Luplau, Jeffrey Schecter, Mitch Greenberg & Michael Bernardi. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (left to right) Marla Phelan, Alexandra Silber, Jenny Rose Baker, Melanie Moore, Hayley Feinstein, Samantha Massell & Sarah Parker. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (left to right) Alexandra Silber, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Danny Burstein, Jessica Hecht, Jenny Rose Baker & Hayley Feinstein. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (left to right) Tess Primack, Reed Luplau, Jennifer Zetlan, Lori Wilner, Eric Bourne, Jessica Vosk, Alix Korey, George Psomas, Jeffrey Schecter, Adam Grupper, Jacob
Guzman, Marla Phelan & Jesse Kovarsky. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber & Samantha Massell. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Jesse Kovarsky (center) & cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: (from top) Jessica Vosk, Danny Burstein, Jessica Hecht & cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Jessica Hecht & Alix Korey. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Jessica Hecht. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Melanie Moore. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Melanie Moore & Nick Rehberger. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Melanie Moore & Danny Burstein. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Stephen Carrasco, Nick Rehberger, Aaron Young, Reed Luplau, Mitch Greenberg, Sarah Parker, Jesse Kovarsky, George Psomas, Eric Bourne & Marla Phelan. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: Danny Burstein. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

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