Fiddler on the Roof, which opened in 1964 winning 8 Tony awards, is
one of those iconic musicals that many of us have either experienced on the
stage (since it’s a favorite high school production) or at the movies (classic 1971
film). It tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters, that tries to
maintain his family’s Jewish religious and cultural traditions as his world and
his community changes in 1905 Russia. It’s a play packed with masterful songs that
celebrates family, love, faith, and the traditions that give a sense of
belonging and stability during life changes and even hardships.
Reflection
Fiddler on the Roof opens with the robust song “Tradition” that defines
everyone’s family role (the papa, mama, daughters,
sons) in the little town of Anatevka. This is the perfect play for a
Thanksgiving weekend which is a time to enjoy our family and practice our own traditions.
At Thanksgiving we know who is going to bring their signature dish to the table
and some find comfort in recreating a family member’s dish that is no longer
with us. My family rallies around the table for a traditional post meal card
game every year.
Tevye, a poor milkman, and his wife, Golde of 35
years, are eager to marry off their
five daughters. Tevye struggles between doing
this the traditional way with a matchmaker and modern way when his three oldest
daughters find their own partners by way of love.
This show is packed with catchy
melodies that captures our heart like, “Matchmaker Matchmaker”, “If I Were a Rich Man”, “To Life”, " Sunrise, Sunset”, “Do You Love Me? ”, “Chavaleh” and more. These heartfelt songs never seem to get old. I
even heard portions of these songs sung by the audience. I met an older women during intermission, who said, with a beaming smile, “Isn’t this so good. I love the music. I have seen this play at least 8
or 9 times”.
Fiddler on the Roof must have a strong lead playing the father. Tevye narrates the story, adds humor and is the anchor of the family. Israeli film and TV star, Yehexkel Lazarov plays the part perfectly adding physical comedy
as Tevye dreams in the show stopping song, “If I Were A Rich Man”. The strength of this show is that almost every song is a potential show
stopper, yet this version also had characters that were superbly
acted along with the wonderful musical score.
Fiddler on the Roof has joyful dancing in“To Life” and at “The Wedding”,
where men glided across the stage balancing bottles on their heads. This show also
depicts powerful sorrow when the Jewish
people are forced to leave the home that they love in “Anatevka”. It is timeless because this show reminds us that in
joy and sorrow we can rely on our family,
love, faith and traditions to persevere as we navigate the bumps of life.
Fiddler on the Roof runs Nov 20-25,2018 at Benedum Center. For Tickets and more on PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh go to Trustarts.org.
Spiritual Source
So then, brothers, stand firm and hod to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Other Sources
Fiddler on the Roof, which opened in 1964 winning 8 Tony awards, is
one of those iconic musicals that many of us have either experienced on the
stage (since it’s a favorite high school production) or at the movies (classic 1971
film). It tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters, that tries to
maintain his family’s Jewish religious and cultural traditions as his world and
his community changes in 1905 Russia. It’s a play packed with masterful songs that
celebrates family, love, faith, and the traditions that give a sense of
belonging and stability during life changes and even hardships.
Reflection
Fiddler on the Roof opens with the robust song “Tradition” that defines
everyone’s family role (the papa, mama, daughters,
sons) in the little town of Anatevka. This is the perfect play for a
Thanksgiving weekend which is a time to enjoy our family and practice our own traditions.
At Thanksgiving we know who is going to bring their signature dish to the table
and some find comfort in recreating a family member’s dish that is no longer
with us. My family rallies around the table for a traditional post meal card
game every year.
Tevye, a poor milkman, and his wife, Golde of 35
years, are eager to marry off their
five daughters. Tevye struggles between doing
this the traditional way with a matchmaker and modern way when his three oldest
daughters find their own partners by way of love.
This show is packed with catchy
melodies that captures our heart like, “Matchmaker Matchmaker”, “If I Were a Rich Man”, “To Life”, " Sunrise, Sunset”, “Do You Love Me? ”, “Chavaleh” and more. These heartfelt songs never seem to get old. I
even heard portions of these songs sung by the audience. I met an older women during intermission, who said, with a beaming smile, “Isn’t this so good. I love the music. I have seen this play at least 8
or 9 times”.
Fiddler on the Roof must have a strong lead playing the father. Tevye narrates the story, adds humor and is the anchor of the family. Israeli film and TV star, Yehexkel Lazarov plays the part perfectly adding physical comedy
as Tevye dreams in the show stopping song, “If I Were A Rich Man”. The strength of this show is that almost every song is a potential show
stopper, yet this version also had characters that were superbly
acted along with the wonderful musical score.
Fiddler on the Roof has joyful dancing in“To Life” and at “The Wedding”,
where men glided across the stage balancing bottles on their heads. This show also
depicts powerful sorrow when the Jewish
people are forced to leave the home that they love in “Anatevka”. It is timeless because this show reminds us that in
joy and sorrow we can rely on our family,
love, faith and traditions to persevere as we navigate the bumps of life.
Fiddler on the Roof runs Nov 20-25,2018 at Benedum Center. For Tickets and more on PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh go to Trustarts.org.
Spiritual Source
So then, brothers, stand firm and hod to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Other Sources
So then, brothers, stand firm and hod to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Other Sources
