Fiddler on the Roof

My thanks must firstly go to my colleague Rep, Dorothy Johnstone for inviting me to review EMT’s Fiddler on the Roof while she was performing the part of Mrs Tottendale in “The Drowsy Chaperone”. This is my first visit to EMT in two decades, and, I am glad to say, the standard has remained at the high level which I remember.

It is 1905 and we are in the small Russian village of Anatevka where we meet Tevye (Alex Kantor), the village milkman – the father of five daughters – and follow his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious beliefs and traditions. Tevye makes every effort to cope with his three elder daughters wishes to marry for love, until his third daughter Chava (Katie McLean) announces her intention to marry a Russian soldier, Fyedka (Keith McLeod) – this is the last straw for Tevye, and he refuses to give his permission (or his blessing) on their marriage. The two youngest daughters Bielke and Shprintze (Kirsty Thomson & Emma McFarlane), as we find later, are being prepared to succumb to the machinations of the village Matchmaker, Yente (Hazel Beattie).

The show opens with a very powerful rendition of “Tradition” by the ensemble, complete with well-rehearsed hand and body moves. Moving on to the family home, we meet Tevye and his (very youthful) wife Golde (Libby Crabtree), together with their five daughters. Tevye’s show stopping number “If I were a Rich Man”, as is normal, receiving tumultuous applause – and deservedly so. Moving swiftly on – Tzeitel (Sally Pugh), Tevye’s eldest daughter is, courtesy of the Matchmaker, to marry the village butcher Lazar Wolf (Kenneth Pinkerton), a match which Tevye and Lazar celebrate in the local hostelry in the spirited number, “To Life”. Again a well performed number with excellent assistance from the chorus. However, Tzeitel has other ideas about marriage, and talks Tevye in to giving his blessing to a marriage with Motel, a poor tailor. This new found happiness is celebrated by Motel in an excellent rendition of “Miracle of Miracles”. This change of marriage plan is broken by Tevye to Golde in the dream sequence with Fruma Sarah (Sophie Cogle) and Grandma Tzeitel (Jane Liggat) joining in the plot. Act One draws to a close with the very touching “Sunrise Sunset” showing off the fine singing abilities of the EMT company.

Act Two finds Tevye having to bite his tongue once more, this time for the wishes of his second daughter, Hodel (Ashley Grandison), whose wish to marry Kiev student Perchik (David Bartholomew), he reluctantly accedes to. Perchik and Hodel’s “Now I have Everything” reaching the hearts of all of the audience – with more to come. Hodel’s solo “Far From the Home I Love” sung while awaiting departure at the station was presented by Ashley in truly heart rending fashion.

EMT’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” was a classic production in classic style – and why not! Too often societies feel they know better than the composers and lyricists – not always so!

Congratulations to Director, Ian Hammond Brown, Musical Director, Paul Gudgin and Choreographer, Sarah Wilkie, for bringing out the best in this wonderful musical by Edinburgh Music Theatre.

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