REVIEW - Fiddler on the Roof, The Lyceum
Croft House Operatic Society have turned Sholom Aleichem's story into a fine production. The author's pseudonym means Peace be with you in Hebrew.
Tevye is milkman to the people of Anatevka, a small Jewish settlement in Russia, in 1905. The Russian Revolution is just around the corner.
Tradition has an important role in Judaism. Marriages are arranged by the village matchmaker. When Tevye's eldest of five daughters, Tzeitel refuses to marry a rich butcher and declares her love for Motel, a poor tailor, he realises that he must adapt to inevitable change.
There are some great songs. The most famous being, If I Were a Rich Man by Tevye which youngsters will recognise from Gwen Stefani's 2005 single, Rich Girl.
Another great number is To Life with Tevye, the butcher and other Jews, drunkedly celebrating a marriage agreement. Tension ensues as the Russians join in the dancing.
It is a very sad story featuring the breakdown of family tradition, religious intolerance and ultimately ethnic cleansing and eviction.
Aleichem however, elects to keep the atmosphere light, despite the veracity of the subject matter.
Martin Peacock as Tevye has many amusing lines. He continually misquotes the Bible, to the chagrin of long suffering wife Golde, played by Judi Johnson-Hart. Despite their arranged marriage they realise they love each other after twenty-five years together.
There is also a super dream sequence featuring the butcher's barmy ex-wife and Golde's grandmother warning against a marriage like Dickens's Ghost of Christmas past.
Got a view? Add your comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
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