Reader Reviews
Fiddler on the Roof (Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I saw this late on in the run and the problems of focus noted in the original review seemed to me to have been overcome. I sat down in a less than receptive mood having had a truly grisly drive from London and a somnolent afternoon at the panto over the road. Within five minutes I was totally gripped and I was held throughout the evening. The first act is very difficult to bring off because it is so long. But you cannot cut any of it because it is all pertinent to the story. I felt that they succeeded beyond any production I have seen and the pacing was exemplary. The one noticeable cut made in Act 2 was the last verse of Hodel's railway station song. To my mind it was a huge misjudgement since it rounds off the scene (and usually reduces the audience to tears. It was especially annoying as Alexandra Silber had sung the rest of the number so beautifully. Goodman was a titanic central presence and I loved the way he redefined the role which has often seemed frozen with Topol's film performance. But, for me, the whole cast were exemplary and the production was stunning. I am not usually a big fan of Peter Mumford's lighting because I find him a very fidgety designer. However his design for "Fiddler" was gorgeous as was the simple but highly effective setting. It is invidious to pick out high points but the hilarious "dream" sequence and the whole Wedding scene were particularly fine. - 195.93.21.70) | 13 Jan 07 |
| The show was even better than I could have hoped (the film version has always tended to pass me by without making any great impact) with a good ensemble and outstanding central performances by Goodman & Klein. - 193.108.73.47) | 29 Dec 06 |
