A scene from “Fiddler on the Roof” (photo: Theatre Harrisburg)
The classic, multi-award-winning musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” by Joseph Stein might be set in in the tiny village of Anatevka, Ukraine, in 1905, but the storyline feels all too familiar, given the chosen people’s chronic condition of political and social unrest throughout history.
Directed by Theatre Harrisburg’s Kevin L. Biddle and debuting musical director Marina Cherepinsky, “Fiddler on the Roof” invites you to take part in the rich Jewish traditions of the extended mishpachah (Hebrew for “family/social group”). Amidst the turmoil of the time and place, traditions and family roles remain constants for the villagers to cling to. Traditions keep order. Traditions maintain the balance.
And the tradition of marriages arranged by a matchmaker and blessed by the father keep social order fueled for generations to come. Daughters in poor families need to take what they can get. After all, even the worst husband is better than no husband at all.
But Tevye’s (Marc Lubbers) daughters have other ideas. Instead of following matchmaker Yente’s (Darlene Hein) well-worn pre-marital traditions that feel more like transactions, the daughters want to marry for love, no matter what their parents think.
The whole schpiel is explained in the song “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” by daughters Tzeitel (Rebekah Woods), Hodel (Hannah Paymer), and Chava (Laney Dixon), who nicely blend their ranges together. Suitor Motel (Joel Colvin) shines in the song “Miracle of Miracles.” An extra mazel tov to Woods for her hilarious impression of Yente.
Lubbers has a rich voice that projects easily. If his mic were cut, the audience wouldn’t have missed a note. In “If I Were a Rich Man,” he incorporates both an operatic style and livestock noises into the same song, making my favorite number from the soundtrack that much better. With his unrefined mannerisms, impatient manner and tendency to misquote “The Good Book” every chance he gets, Lubbers makes an astonishingly convincing Tevye.
Tevye has a practical dynamic with his wife, Golde (Bryden McCurdy). McCurdy etches a squinting scowl into her face for the entire show to bring us a sarcastic, deadpan, fiercely no-nonsense lady with a high sense of duty for all things tachlis. Then McCurdy lets her guard down to bring forth Golde’s vulnerability in the tenderly harmonized duet, “Do You Love Me?” with Lubbers.
All together, the chorus ensemble delivers seamless melodies in the musical’s signature song, “Tradition,” and “The Dream.” The song, “Sabbath Prayer,” during the Shabbos observance lilts on the ears like a heavenly hymn. Also reminiscent of a prayer is “Anatevka,” a stoic and somber tribute to their village. For some comic relief, all the men at the local watering hole belt out the rollicking “To Life,” and the villagers play their version of the telephone game in “The Rumor.”
The show’s dancing is quite rustic – a salt-of-the-earth effort. In my mind, it lends the show overall authenticity and suspended disbelief to watch dance numbers with real people giving it their best rather than professional dancers who are too polished. For example, if I’m at a Jewish wedding watching someone’s druncles dance live, they aren’t busting a move like a perfectly rehearsed dance mob. They’re a little klutzy, a little soused with alcohol and chutzpah. They would struggle to lift the bride and groom for the traditional chair dance, or stumble through the Horah, or they’re doing that Russian Sailor’s Dance that makes my knees kvetch when I watch. It’s all real, without pretense.
In addition to the excellent musical score and authentic dancing, “Fiddler on the Roof” has charming characters who speak their minds, with the gossip and pettiest squabbles of the day holding interest. Then the world creeps in with issues looming large, making simple lives more complicated. Everything goes all meshuggeneh and fukakta.
You don’t have to be a rich man to score tickets, but on the other hand… I heard from the butcher that tickets are selling like cheese out of the back of the milkman’s cart. L’chaim!
“Fiddler on the Roof” runs through Nov. 19 at Whitaker Center, 222 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information on show times and tickets, visit https://theatreharrisburg.com/shows/fiddler-on-the-roof/.
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