Review: Fiddler on the Roof at PPAC

For those of us who discovered "Broadway" via movie musicals that were shown late at night and on Saturday afternoons in the 1970's and 80's, it is Topol who owns the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. (Do you remember Frank Avruch and "The Million Dollar Movie" or Dana Hersey hosting "The Movie Loft" on Channel 38 in Boston?)

Zero Mostel is on my iPod, but it is Topol who is in my earliest memories of Fiddler. Now, 38 years after the film was in general release, Topol is embarking on a farewell tour in the role of Tevye. On February 10th, the tour "officially" opened in Providence, RI at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Topol is mesmerizing in the role of Tevye, the milkman. He voice is deeply resonant and he has charisma to spare. This Tevye is has a personal relationship with his God. He is playful and dishes out the Yiddish, fatalistic, humor.

Just as God blessed Tevye with a fine wife and five beautiful daughters, the producers of Fiddler have provided Topol with an on-stage family of women who can act, sing and dance.  A terrific supporting cast surrounds him, including Susan Cella as his wife Golde. In the roles of his daughters there is Rena Strober as Tzeitel, Jamie Davis as Hodel, Alison Walla as Chava, Kerry Alexander as Shprintze and Julie Brooks as Bielke. Mary Stout takes an entertaining turn as the meddling Yente. Erik Liberman and Colby Foytick are charming as Motel, the tailor and Perchik, the student, respectively.

Jerome Robbins' inspired original choreography is re-created by Sammy Bayes, who also directs. It seems that nearly every song is someone's favorite. The bottle dance (and dancers) still amazes, as do the Cossacks.

From the first familiar opening bars of "Tradition", the audience (myself included) gave themselves over to this tremendous production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Performances are Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 15 at 1:00 & 6:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $43 - $70 and can be purchased at PPAC's Box Office window, or by calling (401) 421-ARTS, Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.; or visit www.ppacri.org to purchase tickets any time.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus