Double dose of ‘Fiddler’ coming
“Fiddler on the Roof ” has had a makeover. Back in 2015 the musical was reimagined for a Great White Way revival commemorating the show’s 50th anniversary.
That’s the version coming twice to South Florida on a national Broadway tour, first in Miami Oct. 29-Nov. 3 and then in West Palm Beach Nov. 12-17. It is also essentially the same cast that played Fort Lauderdale in late February and early March.
The road show has quite the creative team behind it. The revival was helmed by theater and opera director Bartlett Sher (“The Light in the Piazza,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” “South Pacific,” “Oslo,” “The King and I”).
And Israeli-born, London-based choreographer Hofesh Shecter re-staged Jerome Robbins’ original choreography.
Set in Imperial Russia circa 1905, “Fiddler on the Roof ” tells the story of life in a small, outlying Jewish settlement through Reb Tevye, a man clinging to his religious and cultural traditions despite the world around him rapidly changing. Three of his five daughters want to marry for love rather than have a matchmaker make an arranged marriage. Additionally, the Jews face increasing hostility from their Orthodox Christian neighbors and, in time, the Czar. Ironically, the narrative, which is essentially about change, has remained the same throughout several incarnations, from the stage to the screen. Starring Topol, the movie version hit big screens in 1971 and went on to win three Academy Awards.
The musical, which debuted on Broadway
in 1964, is best known for it score by Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The songs that are now considered standards include “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “Miracle of Miracles,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Far From the Home I Love,” “Do You Love Me?” and “To Life (L’Chaim!).” The show originally won nine Tony Awards in 1965, including Best Musical and Best Author of a Musical for the show’s book writer Joseph Stein.
Yehezkel Lazarov, an Israeli film and TV actor/director, will play the lead in this road production.
In addition to leading man roles in movies such as “Waltz with Bashir,” “The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field” and “Lashabiya,” he has headed up stage productions of “A Chorus Line” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in Tel Aviv.
On the small screen he has appeared in “The Mentalist” in Russia, “Mata Hari” in Europe and “Combat Medics” in Israel.