“Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.”
The Georgetown Palace Theatre opened Fiddler on the Roof on May 30 at the historic Springer Stage. The enthusiastic, sold-out audience was rewarded with a superb performance.
The Broadway production premiered in 1964, and it held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years. The play won nine Tony Awards and inspired five Broadway revivals and a highly acclaimed film adaptation.
Wide recognition and deep affection for this iconic play bring high expectations. Fine direction brought all elements of the Palace production together into a collaborative vision that was flawless.
Director Rick Roemer received his theatre-based Ph.D. from UCLA. He chaired the Theatre Department at Southwestern University for 15 years and now teaches all levels of acting at The Actor’s School.
Dr. Roemer, who has worked off-Broadway and in regional theatre across the country, is passionate about Fiddler on the Roof.
“This musical is a testament to the Jews absolute resilience,” he said, noting Fiddler takes place in 1905 Russia, only 30 years before Nazi Germany and the Holocaust and the attempt to exterminate the Jews.
Fiddler on the Roof has many themes running through it, he said. One of the most profound is the tension between modernity and tradition.
“The opening number, ‘Tradition,’ sets up one half of this conflict. From this number we know the roles of each member of this rural community in Anatevka.”
At the core of Fiddler on the Roof is the story of love. Dr. Roemer provided a brief summary.
“As the story unfolds, we learn that Tevye’s daughters choose their own husbands, not waiting to be paired up by a matchmaker, where the father decides who they will marry,” he said.
“The first is the oldest daughter Tzeitel, who wants to marry her childhood sweetheart, Motel. The second is Hodel, who falls in love with the university educated traveler, Perchik. They only request Tevye's blessing, not his permission.”
Dr. Roemer continued, “They are in love. Love! A new concept for Tevye and his wife Golde. I’m sure they never discussed the issue of love before all of this. It's not until the Tevye/Golde duet, ‘Do You Love Me?’ that both of them are confronted with this new, crazy concept - love!”
Even when the third daughter, Chava, chose to marry a non-Jew, Tevye wishes the new couple, “God be with you.”
“While he does not condone their marriage, he will not abandon his daughter,” Dr. Roemer said. “Chava knows after hearing ‘God be with you’ that she is not totally ostracized from the family.
“Love. That is what Tevye learns from his daughters. Through the tension of the daughters relationships, it's love that prevails.”
Music Director Veronica DeSantos Ryan and Choreographer Evan Carlson bring extensive theater experience and education to the outstanding score. Skillful costume and set design conveyed historical and cultural contexts. The entire cast was true to character, each carrying their part of the story with passion, skill, and precision.
Brian Joyce was perfectly cast in the starring role of Tevye. Mr. Joyce portrayed the likable, strong patriarch with a warmth and intensity that embodies the transformative power of love. He has performed in opera houses and musical theaters locally and globally. Mr. Joyce's debut at the Georgetown Palace was memorable and impressive.
Fiddler on the Roof is one of the best stories to grace the stage. The outpouring of praise and its popularity continues 60 years after the debut. The Palace cast and crew gave a strong performance that lives up to its reputation.
Fiddler on the Roof runs May 30-July 6 at Springer Stage, 810 South Austin Avenue. Reserve your tickets today at www.georgetownpalace.com.