The legendary musical "Fiddler on the Roof," a co-production by the Alliance Theatre and the Atlanta Opera, is now running at the Alliance and has been extended through Oct. 12.
1964 was a landmark year for Broadway musicals: "Hello, Dolly!" came first, then "Funny Girl," and finally "Fiddler on the Roof," which set a record for the time of 3,242 performances and nine Tony Awards.
The last time Alliance Theatre co-produced a show was "Candide" in 2018 with the Atlanta Symphony. It was performed in Symphony Hall and was monumental. We're fortunate in Atlanta to have nationally recognized companies like these three, and also the Atlanta Ballet.
"Fiddler" is based on the Sholem Aleichem stories and has a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The original New York stage production was directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins.
The music director in Atlanta is Or Matias; choreography by Chloe Treat; direction by Tomer Zvulun.
Most adults who follow musical theatre will recall that "Fiddler" is a musical based on Sholem Aleichem's stories about Tevye the dairyman (superbly played by international performer Itzik Cohen), a poor Jewish milkman in a Russian village in 1905. He struggles to maintain his religious and cultural traditions amid changing times, anti-Jewish sentiment, and his daughters' desires for independence.
Director Zvulun comments, "We live in tense times, and artists must have the courage to convey the truth. 'Fiddler' is not just a popular musical with catchy tunes. It is a mirror to humanity."
Yet the show throbs with humor, vitality, joy, and some unforgettable songs: "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," If I Were a Rich Man," "To Life," "Sunrise, Sunset," "Now I Have Everything," and others.
The cast is superb: I can't mention everyone, but you will be charmed by Debbie Gravitte, Deborah Bowman, Sully Brown, Galen Crawley, Nicholas Cunha, Joanna Daniels, Coby Getzug, Mia Pinero, Maya Jacobson, Debbie Gravitte, Amanda Fallon Smith, Nick Walker Jones, Oliver Prose, Jeremy Radin and others.
The show itself is spectacular to look at and listen to. The Alliance uses its large stage in surprising ways; for example, there is a video projection that occasionally gives us a close-up of Tevye's face. I found it very effective. Kudos to Duncan Davies and Jamie Goodwin. The orchestra is lovely (music director, Or Matias). Great costume design by Vita Tzykun.
Occasionally, the pace in Act I is a bit slow, but it soon picks up. And even though there is sadness at the end, "Fiddler on the Roof" shows us real vitality and a triumph of the human spirit. They say that "Fiddler" is always playing somewhere in the world; that's easy to believe, although they're probably not as lush and lovely as the Alliance/Atlanta Opera's production.