Sept. 22 marks the 50th anniversary of “Fiddler on the Roof.” One review of that first production, by Walter Kerr, stated, “I think it might be an altogether charming musical if only the people of Anatevka did not pause every now and then to give their regards to Broadway … I very much miss what might have been.”
Half-a-century has proved Mr. Kerr very wrong indeed - this is an enduring, as well as an endearing musical, and the first-rate production at the Cinnabar is not to be missed.
I tried hard to find something, anything to complain about - I even asked a picky friend who also attended. We failed.
The performances are splendid. I’ll start with Stephen Walsh’s Tevye. The thoughtful, humorous, philosophical milkman with his brotherly conversations with God is “Fiddler.” It’s a demanding role, and Walsh sings, acts and dances it to perfection.
No less enjoyable is Cinnabar’s Elly Lichenstein as Tevye’s hard-working, feisty wife, Golde. It’s a delicious role, more sweet and sour than a Chinese dinner, and Lichenstein is wonderful.
Cinnabar, as befits a theater than began as an opera company, has always cast for strong voices and “Fiddler” has plenty. I so enjoyed the charming “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” trio sung by Tevye’s three oldest daughters (Jennifer Mitchell [Tzeitel], Molly Mahoney [Hodel] and Erin Ashe [Chava]) that I wished composer and lyricist Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick had included more songs for them.
That same wish held true for the girls’ suitors (Michael Desnoyers [Motel], Anthony Guzman [Perchik] and Samuel Rabinowitz [Fyedka]). The show runs 2 hours and 40 minutes - I would happily have stayed and listened to them sing a four-hour show.
Yente the matchmaker (Madeleine Ashe) and Lazar Wolf the butcher (Dwayne Stincelli) are scene-stealing comic roles and Ashe and Stincelli do them justice.
Conductor Mary Chun always seems to do wonders with a necessarily small orchestra and this production is no exception. I’d like to single out for special praise the fiddler himself (Tyler Lewis) and the skillful klezmer-style clarinet of Larry London.
Director John Shillington returned to Cinnabar to direct the show after playing Tevye in a production at Sonoma State. His touch is sure. One of Cinnabar’s many charms is the intimacy only a small theater can give and Shillington takes full advantage of this, especially in the opening number. I’d be happy to describe it if I didn’t dislike reviews that give away moments of wonder.
On my way home, happily humming songs from the show, I wondered what it is that keeps this show popular? For one thing, the themes are basic: family, faith and the necessity of humor when life hands us an orchard full of lemons.
The tug-of-war between parents and their traditional way of life and children challenging those traditions.
Parents will recognize in “Sunrise, Sunset” the passage of time: “Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play? I don’t remember growing older. When did they?”
The show remains relevant. Yes it’s about Jews being forced to leave Russia in 1905, but today we could substitute Latin American refugees for Eastern European Jews - it’s the same story, people forced to leave home, abandon almost everything and seek sanctuary.
“Fiddler” has it all in its well-written book and strong, memorable songs. And this production does the show justice.
So - why are you sitting around staring at my words? Put down the paper and call 763-8920 or visit cinnabartheater.com. Opening weekend was a sellout with waiting lists for each performance.
The staff reports tickets ($25-$35) are “selling like hot latkes” and they’ve already extended the run.
Performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., through Sept. 28.
Cinnabar Theater is located at 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North.
(Contact Katie Watts at argus@arguscourier.com)
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