Fiddler On The Roof

The show opens with a powerful rendition of “Tradition” by the large KAOS chorus – and sets the standard for the remainder of the show. Tevye and his wife Golde (Monica Holland) form  believable heads of the family – though, at times, we were left wondering who wears the trousers in this relationship. Mention must be made here of the lovely duet between the pair, “Do You Love Me?”, and also Tevye’s show-stopping “If I Were A Rich Man” – just two of many thought-provoking numbers in the show. On to the daughters. No.1, Tzeitel (Ann-Marie Miller) gave a polished performance, begging her father not to marry her off to Lazar Wolf (Stephen MacKenzie), but rather to give his permission to a match with Motel (Tony Livingston), a poor tailor.  I particularly enjoyed Motel’s animated “Miracle of Miracles”. In order to convince Golde of Tzeitel’s choice, Tevye formulates a dream in which Grandma Zeitel (Kenna Orkney) and Fruma-Sarah (Fiona Brodie) explain what will happen if Tzeitel marries Lazar Wolf.  No.2 daughter, Hodel (Erin Sammutt), makes life more difficult for her father by announcing her wish to marry Perchik (Ronan Corkey) a forward thinking student from Kiev.  Again Tevye accedes to his daughter’s wish and, as if there weren’t enough excellent numbers in the show, we have Hodel and Perchik’s “Now I Have Everything” in the first scene of Act ll, and later, Hodel’s heart-rending solo “Far From The Home I Love”. The outcome of No.3 daughter, Chava’s, quest for love is outlined in the first paragraph of this report, but leads in to Tevye’s final solo number “Chava Sequence” again performed by Alastair with the utmost emotion.

Minor characters are no less important in the show and Bielke (Millie Anderson) and Shprintze (Lucy Barker) – Tevye’s two youngest daughters – made fine additions to the family.   Yente the Matchmaker (Elizabeth Wright) played the part of the neighbourhood gossip to a tee, and the innkeeper, Mordcha (Craig Rose) gave a spirited performance, especially when MC’ing the wedding celebrations!  The role of the Constable (Nigel Orkney) is one which demands effectively a dual personality – that of the Russian official who has to carry out the instructions of those above him, and that of a friend within the Village - two contrasting personalities which Nigel captured impeccably. Last, but by no means least, the Rabbi, performed in his usual scene-stealing manner by Ian Davidson, popped up whenever there was a need for a blessing for a sewing machine or some calm in the Village.

Overall, this was another success for KAOS. Carol Sinclair’s choreography was a pleasure to watch, and this, together with Alasdair Hawthorn’s finely tuned direction and Tom Wright’s excellent control of the singing made for a very pleasurable evening.