Fiddler on the Roof

Synopsis

In Tsarist Russia in 1905, poor dairyman Tevye is doing his best to preserve tradition in the face of a changing world by marrying his daughters off in the traditional Jewish way. But revolution is in the air and the young are guided by their hearts, not their elders. When his daughters refuse the matchmaker's advice and marry for love instead, Tevye must choose between their happiness and his beloved traditions.

Our Review:

31 May 2007

London has not seen Fiddler on the Roof in many years, and this revival by Lindsay Posner starring Henry Goodman as Tevye, the impoverished dairyman in the Russian shtetl, or small town, of Anatevka in 1905, arrives from the Sheffield Crucible as a mixed blessing.

It confirms the 1964 musical’s staying power as a lament for Russian Jewish life before the pogroms in the plangent, rhythmic and insinuating score of Jerry Bock (music) and Sheldon Harnick (lyrics). But the set by Peter McKintosh – the shtetl is crazily nailed together with more boring wooden planks than in ten timber yards – and the stranglehold of Jerome Robbins’ original choreography (which comes as part of the licence) obviate any sense of a “new look”.

Admittedly, the Robbins choreography is worth seeing. The company snakes on, liltingly, hands raised and joined, knees flexed, in the rousing opener, “Tradition”. And certain numbers, such as the famous “bottle” dance at the ...

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Latest User Review

Steviardo - 13 February 2008:

Having seen this production 3 times I have to say that I think it's a brilliant production with nothing I can fault.However,I would say that having seen it 3 times,I would argue that Matt Zimmerman gave a much greater performance than Henry Goodman in the role of Tevye.I saw both of them play the role and actually returned to see it a third time specifically on a night when I knew Matt Zimmerman would be understudying again.I agree that Henry Goodman's performance was a great one but Matt Zimmerman's performance was better still in my opinion.Rather than giving a 'star turn',he was far more real and believable and in my opinion I'd say he is quite possibly the greatest Tevye of all.Unfortunately,it's a performance that not enough people will have seen to have made an indelible impression on theatre lore,but I hope it will become the stuff of legend because it certainly deserves to be....

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