By Chris Heide
In an era of musical that are remakes of movies, and musicals that are geared towards a millennial audience, it can be a bit of a risk to produce a touring revival of a classic piece of Broadway history. While it may be a gamble, it is a gamble that is well executed in the current touring production of Fiddler On The Roof, currently playing at the Paramount Theatre.
Fiddler On The Roof is a story of resilience and hope that can occur under the crushing weight of totalitarianism and authoritarianism. It is the story of a small Jewish town that is beholden to long held traditions: arranged marriage are commonplace, men and women are kept mostly separate, a woman’s place is in the home, and the men make all decisions pertaining to their family. Over the course of the show, several characters choose to buck tradition, in the midst of a vague totalitarian regime that this threatening to kick all Jewish inhabitants out of their home. It is a story that asks the audience to consider what is truly oppressive- a racist government or traditions that do not allow for individuality or growth.
This production is deeply moving and filled with an outstand repertoire of talented actors. Standout performers include Yehezkel Lazarov as Teyve, Maite Uzal as Goldie (Teyve’s wife), and Ruthy Froch as Hodel (the Teyve’s eldest daughter). During the course of the story, Teyve’s three eldest daughters all find love and relationships out of the repressive constants of arranged marriage and Teyve must reconcile his love as a father with his faith and belief in his customs and traditions.
The show is filled with so many memorable songs, including “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”, “If I Were A Rich Man”, and “Do You Love Me.” As someone who has never seen a production of Fiddler on the Roof, I was surprised at how many songs I recognized. Did anyone else not realize that Gwen Stefani’s hit song “Rich Girl” is a blatant rip-off of “If I Were A Rich Man”? No? Just me?
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this show is the detail to the choreography. The dance interludes were breathtaking, complex, and innovative. It was truly impressive to watch a talented group of performers execute such difficult choreography with technical expertise.
Whether or not you are familiar with Fiddler On The Roof, it is a must see production that is both captivating and thought provoking.