Fiddler on the Roof

To recreate the suffering, trials and tribulations and attacks on traditional beliefs  that were faced  with their stoical humour  by the Jewish Community in Russia  in the early part of the 20th Century,  and make it believable and enjoyable is a difficult task for any Society. To do it, so that  it is not seen as  a parody of what may be thought of as typical behaviour is more of a challenge.

Well  Murton  T.G. rose to the challenge in fine style with their joyous rendition of this well known show. From Front of House it seemed to all that the cast were really enjoying the night and this was transmitted into their performances and carried  over the footlights leaving the audience in a happy frame of mind.

With a cast of 40 the logistics of everyone and everything being in the right place at the right was a challenge for the Director/Choreographer Virginia Aken and she did a splendid job in producing this fine piece of theatre. Of course, to excuse the pun, it was not just a one man band as she had tremendous support from the talented Musical Director David Gray and his wonderful orchestra  of 10 and Assistant Choreographer Lennox Henderson who ensured that the traditional dancing was just that.

The lighting and sound were fine and the stage sets simple and okay for the stage space available. It was a pity that Tevye’s Handcart could not be accommodated on the stage itself for that certainly would have enhanced the setting of the show. However  as we all know you have to work with that which is available.

As for the cast itself there were 22 named parts all of whom portrayed their respective characters  well. The musical numbers in the show are extremely well known and contain some lovely harmonies. It was a pleasure to hear them from the Company and with the remainder of the ensemble and dancers they performed them in style. The Company numbers which stood out were as expected Tradition, Sabbath Prayer,  and To Life.

So far as  the Principal line up was concerned Stephen Laws as Tevye was of course pivotal to the Show and he gave us a super interpretation of the man with some  wonderful interaction with the audience. He introduced some nice little comedic touches to the role which added something new to the character.  He was well supported by Bernadette Trotter  as the long suffering wife Golde, Gordon Richardson as the dour butcher Lazar Wolf, Anne Malpass as the Matchmaker Yente and Peter Oliver as the Rabbi’ whilst Christine Ward and Irene Smith gave us two lovely cameo roles as Fruma Sarah and Grandma Tzeitel respectively.

Last but by no means least I was greatly impressed by the  love interest parties of Tzeitel,  Hodel, Chava,  Motel, Perchik and Fyedka. These parts  were acted and sung to an exceptional standard by Deborah Taylor-Smith , Rachel Smith, Amy Westwick Holden, Martyn Banks, Matthew Lowery and Lennox Henderson . Well done

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