The Long Island Advance
‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Is A Gorgeous Production
Gateway’s musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” opened in Bellport on Friday, buoyed by a radiance that poured forth from every actor, with Bruce Winant as Tevye at the helm, spinning the story as if it were their own personal journey.
Thirty cast members delighted the audience with the rousing opening number “Tradition,” arms and hands held high in joy, bodies swaying to an inner spiritual calling, boots stomping for emphasis, voices in an operatic chorus as they sang and danced.
Be still my heart. (Well, soar if you must.) This show is truly beautiful.
The story, circa 1905 in Anatevka, a small poor Russian village (now the Ukraine) on the eve of the Russian Revolution, centers around a father and his wife of five daughters, three of marriage age, eking out a living as a dairyman and trying to hold on to the old ways of Jewish life.
The theme is touchingly poignant. Let’s face it, many of us wish for the good old days. But while village life is vibrant with the gossipy, hilarious, fast-talking matchmaker Yente, played by Susan J. Jacks (she is brilliant), rich butcher Lazar Wolf (Justin R.G. Holcomb), the Rabbi (David Tabachnik), the Town Boys, the Bottle Dancers and others, life is change, as this story reminds us. And we must change with it if we are to thrive.
That’s where the actual Fiddler (Samuel Gray) comes in. Perched on Tevye’s roof in the first number and in various moments, he’s a metaphor for survival in life’s uncertainty.
Winant’s Tevye is an expansive, grateful, humorous, honorable, kind force at the center of the story, who accepts his life. He talks affectionately to God, to himself, and reasons fairly with others while attempting to unravel dilemmas. A generous soul with integrity who loves his family, his gestures, whether a shrug, eye roll, or a silently mouthed “thank you” to a solution, are perfect.
(I wish he was my uncle.)
His wife, Golde (Abby Lee, whose voice is gorgeous), is weary, resigned, efficient and hopeful that their three daughters, Tzeitel (Leah Mossman), Hodel (Ruth Froch) and Chava (Rebecca Lynn Goldfarb) will find good, prosperous husbands via the matchmaker. But Tzeitel, the oldest, must marry first, and all three daughters have minds of their own.
We’ll leave it at that, with a few spoilers. But we can elaborate on some of the songs.
“If I Were a Rich Man” is delicious (who hasn’t warbled their own version) as Tevye sings out his joyful, playful, imaginative “if only,” strutting, screaming his wish, clucking like a chicken, acting out each phrase. Wow!
The “Sabbath Prayer,” with the beginning words “May the Lord defend and protect you,” as candles are lit, is very profound and beautiful.
While this musical won several Tony Awards, “The Dream” scene in Tevye’s bedroom when he is wrestling with how to tell his sleeping wife of his marriage decision for Tzeitel not to marry Lazar Wolf, the wealthy butcher, but her own choice, is frankly, Oscar-winning. The imagined ghosts of Grandma Tzeitel and Lazar’s dead wife, Fruma-Sarah (Jennifer Brett, a force to be reckoned with), who rises up from the grave as a horrible wraith warning there will be a curse if Tevye’s daughter marries Lazar Wolf, with the Rabbi and whole village singing, is a brilliant, fall-over-laughing spectacle.
The many wonderful aspects of this production just keep coming, thanks to director/choreographer Keith Andrews.
(Mazel tov, Keith!)
The beautiful set is a magical-realism design of trees, a swirling sky that changes to twinkling stars, a distant hill, the cottage and village they live in.
Besides the singing, the dancing is spectacular, especially with the Bottle Dancers and leaping Russian dancers adding to the wow factor of the show. (James Monroe Stevko is the dance captain.) Music director/conductor Keith Levenson and his musicians truly honored the score.
The cast is a talented crew who have starred on Broadway, Off Broadway, National and Regional tours, on television, in New York City clubs. There are Gateway alums in here, namely Mark Ryan Anderson (“Jersey Boys” and “Cabaret”) as Fyedka; Ryan K. Bailer (“Evita” and “The Sound of Music”) as the Constable; and Jose Contreras as Nachum (“Holiday Spectacular on Ice,” “Evita,” and “The Wedding Singer”); and Justin R. Holcomb as Lazar Wolf (“West Side Story,” and “Jekyll & Hyde”).
It’s worth noting that Gateway artistic director Paul Allan pointed to a recent Yiddish version of “Fiddler” that ran at Manhattan’s New World Stages and tried to be true to the culture.
“That helped us,” Allan said of crafting this glorious production.
Smithtown Matters
The Gateway’s Riveting Revival of “Fiddler on the Roof!”
In 1974, I saw “Fiddler on the Roof” for the first time at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre, and the magnificence of this award-winning musical blew me away. Fifty years later, The Gateway’s polished-to-perfection production of this beloved classic had the same awe-inspiring effect on me.
From the moment the lights came up, the magic began with a showstopping performance of the beloved song “Tradition.” Gateway alumna Bruce Winant, as Tevye, the main character, drew the audience in with his charismatic presence the moment he belted out, “Tradition, tradition! Tradition!” When the company joined in, the immensity of their collective acting, singing, and dancing talents started the production on a high note!
With a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, “Fiddler on the Roof” opened on Broadway sixty years ago and featured the inimitable Zero Mostel and Maria Karnilova, whose parents were emigrants from Tsarist Russia. Both of these iconic stars won Tony awards for their outstanding performances. Broadway legend Jerome Robbins received two Tony awards, Best Direction and Choreography. Astoundingly, this 1964 musical won nine Tony awards, including Best Musical, score, and Book.
Based on Sholom Aleichem’s stories by special permission of Arnold Perl, this musical, set at the beginning of the 20th century in a small Russian village, is the heartwarming and often heartrending tale of Tevye, the Dairyman, his wife, and five daughters. Much of the conflict revolves around Tevye, a man of faith and tradition, who finds many of his most profound beliefs tested by his three oldest daughters and the trying political times in which he lives.
Winant, perfectly cast as Tevye, has impressive Broadway credits, including “Chicago,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Ragtime,” “American in Paris,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” “Miss Saigon,” “Les Misérables” and “My Favorite Year.” Watching his award-worthy performance, I can see why he is such a sought-after star. He is a powerhouse performer with vocals to match. His solo, “If I Were a Rich Man,” was worth the price of admission. When he came back on stage during the curtain call, the audience jumped up and gave him and the rest of the stellar cast a well-deserved standing ovation.
Abbey Lee was captivating as Golde, Tevye’s hardworking, wisecracking, world-weary wife. One of the funniest scenes, “The Dream,” takes place in Tevye and Golde’s bedroom. Delivering messages from the grave, Brooke Wetterhahn was captivating as Grandma Tzeitel and Jennifer Brett’s larger-than-life performance of Fruma Sarah thrilled the audience.
Lee and Winant’s onstage chemistry during their beautiful duet, “Do You Love Me?” was another memorable moment.
Leah Mossman was superb as Tzeitel, Tevye and Golde’s oldest daughter, and Oliver Prose gave an outstanding performance as Motel, the poor but determined tailor madly in love with her. Prose aced his solo, “Miracle of Miracles.” Ruthy Froch as Hodel, the second oldest daughter, stole the show with her moving rendition of the heartbreaking ballad “Far From the Home I Love.” I was sitting close enough to the stage to see the tears in her eyes when she sang, “Oh, what a melancholy choice this is, wanting home, wanting him.” Nikita Burshteyn was believable as Perchik, Hodel’s love interest, and a man with modern ideas and strong integrity. Rebecca Lynn Goldfarb as Chava, another of Tevye’s strong-willed daughters, gave a nuanced performance as a troubled young woman forced to choose between her family and the man she loves. Mark Ryan Anderson gave a strong performance as Fyedka, the intelligent and kindhearted Russian man Chava runs off with. Mossman, Froch, and Goldfarb showcased their beautiful vocals during their heartfelt rendition of “Matchmaker.”
Susan J. Jacks was hilarious as Yente, the gossipy matchmaker, who provides some much-needed comedic relief. Two other standout performers were Justin R.G. Holcomb as Lazar Wolf and Ryan K. Bailer as the Constable.
Keith Andrews’s choreography is bold, athletic, energetic, and captivating. The Inn scene, where the Villagers and the Russians dance together to the rousing song “To Life (L’Chaim!),” was one of my favorite dance numbers. A special shoutout goes to the incredible Bottle Dancers Ze’ev Barmor, Anthony DaSilva, Wyatt Slone, and James Monroe Stevko.
The rest of the tightknit ensemble cast includes Giada Longo and Addison Wasylyshyn as Shprintze, Sonnie Betts and Sofia Da Costa-Wilson as Bielke, Alexander Blake Wind as Avram, Ze’ev Barmor as Mendel, Samuel Gray as the Fiddler, Ben Cherry as Mordcha, John Reed as Chiam, Jose Contreras as Nachum, Wyatt Slone as Boris, James Monroe Stevko as Sasha, Anthony DaSilva as Yuri, Rivers O’Neal, Bennett Schneider, Asher King, and Nicholas Iannaccone as Cheder Boys, David Tobachnik as the Rabbi, Collin Aloi, Leo Faitakes, Leonardo Mignola as Russian soldiers, and Skylar Greene and Hailey Aviva as Villagers.
The Gateway’s electrifying production of “Fiddler on the Roof” is a must-see!
With support from
Bellport Box Office
Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 6pmClosed Monday
631-286-1133
boxoffice@thegateway.org
