BWW REVIEWS: Fiddler on the Roof with Harvey Fierstein

The "Farewell Tour" of Fiddler on the Roof opened this weekend at the Canon Theatre with a very noticeable change in casting; Chaim Topol had to pull out of the tour due to a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Harvey Fierstein, who played the role in 2005 in the Broadway Revival of the production. Some people were disappointed to learn that Topol would not be reprising the role that he made famous in the 1971 film; however, Fierstein is a great replacement.

Fiddler on the Roof is arguably one of the most famous musicals of the last few decades, and a great choice for the holiday season. Filled with songs about family, love and (of course) tradition, this show is a heart warmer that reminds the audience of the importance of family, love and spirituality.

Fierstein is a treat to watch perform the role of Tevye, a milkman blessed with five daughters, all of whom have to be married off to suitable partners. His singing voice does leave a little to be desired, but if you are prepared to look past that, what you will come to realize is that you are watching a truly great performer. Fierstein's take on Tevye is one of kindness; he plays the role a bit like a big teddy bear. You can tell how much his wife and daughters mean to him, and how he values their happiness despite the fact that life keeps handing him lemons. The story is at times quite sad; as we watch a family faced with many hardships struggle to carve out an existence in an impoverished land while their world is being taken over by forces stronger than any they have had to face before. However, when you look past all the trials and tribulations, you find the simple story of a man attempting to do right by the people he loves, and that is what makes it so special.

Fierstein may seem an odd choice for this role, especially since Tevye is given some of musical theatre's most popular songs to tackle. And on some of these numbers, such as If I Were A Rich Man and Tradition, he does appear to struggle and his gravelly voice is almost speaking instead of singing. However, his acting choices and embodiment of the character more than Make Up For what he may be lacking in vocal ability. You are able to really feel for Tevye and his struggles, and Fierstein is great with the comedic parts of the show too. I found that I spent a good portion of the show observing the audiences reaction to his performance, and they seemed completely immersed in his Tevye. The smiles on the faces as he pleads with God for guidance while cracking jokes about the Jewish people and their hardships, served as proof positive that Fierstein was knocking this one out of the park.

The rest of the cast is solid, they work very well together and help put on a great show. Stand-outs for me included Mary Stout as Yente the Matchmaker and Erik Liberman as Motel, the penniless tailor who longs for the hand of Tevye's eldest daughter Tzeitel (Rena Strober). The daughters are also wonderful to watch, they have beautiful voices that harmonize very well together on numbers such as "Matchmaker" and the three eldest really succeed in tugging the heartstrings as they plead with their father to be allowed to make their own matrimonial choices. The cohesion of the ensemble only helps to further espouse the virtues and importance of both family and tradition.

This production comes to Toronto at a perfect time, and the Canon Theatre serves as the perfect venue at the holiday season. Decked out in festive garb, the theatre looks truly remarkable, and the themes of the show resonate that much more in a festive environment. If you are looking for a special treat this holiday season, check out this timeless classic, you won't be disappointed.

When and Where?

Fiddler on the Roof
The Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria St, Toronto
December 8th- January 10th

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Tues - Sat, 7:30 PM; Wed, Sat, Sun 1:30 PM
ADDED HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES:
Tues Dec 22, 1:30 PM; Sun Dec 27, 7:30 PM; Mon Dec 28, 7:30 PM; Sun Jan 3, 7:30 PM

Note: There are no performances on Dec 24 and 25, Dec 26 Matinee and Jan 1

Tickets range from $69 to $225 for Premium Holiday Seats, and Stool Seats are available for purchase for as low as $30.

Tickets are now available at the box office, by phone at 416.872.1212 (toll-free, call 1.800.461.3333) or online at www.mirvish.com

For more information please visit www.mirvish.com/fiddler

 

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