Fiddler on the Roof
Information
- Date
- 11th November 2016
- Society
- Hexham Amateur Stage Society
- Venue
- Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Mari Stewart
- Musical Director
- Albert Simpson
- Choreographer
- Robert Laws
“Fiddler” is always popular, filled with memorable songs, Jewish humour and pathos. Mari Stewart and Albert Simpson’s production emphasises these attributes within the Jewish settlement of Anatevka in the Russia of 1905, with the Tsar about to decree their villages be cleared. The story centres on milkman Tevye, father of five, attempting to maintain Jewish culture and tradition as outside influences encroach, coping with three strong-willed older daughters, wishing to marry for love, each relationship becoming more remote from the faith.
The central character is excellently brought out by Will Long, trying to scrape a living and cope with a family of headstrong girls. Clair Applegarth plays Golde, his wife of twenty five years, and makes a perfect foil for world weary but humorous Tevye. There are not many dry eyes in the house after their duet of “Do You Love Me”, well performed, very touching.
The girls are very well played particularly the eldest three who all want to marry men of their own chosing – penniless tailor, radical student and (outside the faith) Russian villager. I was particularly drawn to Niamh Geddes who plays a winsome Hodel and exhibited a very attractive singing voice.
The other elder daughters, Tzeilel and Chava are played well by Hayley Olsen and Ruby Corder and all three daughters interact well with their suitors, Perchik (played by Liam Olsen), Motel (Stu Rutherford) and Fyedka (Finn McKendrick). The reveal of Motel and Tzeitel’s sewing machine, rather than their baby, is well realised and the scenes between each couple are effective and moving. These three couples seem determined to break tradition and make Yente, the Matchmaker (Beryl Amos) redundant.
Other cast members deserving of mention; Steve Mobbs plays thwarted Lazar Wolf, Tevye’s age but hoping to marry young Tzeitel as well as the young men who played and danced the Cossacks. Everyone who took part and fulfilled their roles so well, creating an absorbing production. As always, I was taken by the chorus singing, it is always very impressive at Hexham. Band, stagecrew, lighting and sound all contributed seamlessly to the overall effect.
I have a love-hate relationship with Fiddler. I leave the theatre feeling great sadness, as the villagers trundle out of Anatevka. With historical hindsight I know some will end up safe and prosperous in the New World but others will remain in Europe, in the line of fire of the Nazis, just 34 years later.
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