Director Laura Andruski
Venue: 427 Franklin Street, Schenectady
Performance Dates: March 16-18 and 22-25, 2012
Show times: Thurs, Friday and Saturday performances at 8PM, Sunday performances at 2PM.
Ticket prices: $28, $22
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THE STORY
The year is 1905 and a Jewish community in Tsarist Russia is trying to eke out a living in its shtetl in the village of Anatevka. Tevye is a milkman who has a personal relationship with God in whom he confides all. He strives, very hard, to keep up the traditions of his faith, race and culture. He has five daughters, itself a problem but what is more pressing is trying to find husbands for the eldest three children.
Yente, the matchmaker, does her best, but with no money, no dowry to offer she finds that her work is very difficult.
Tzeitel rejects the butcher Lazar Wolf, to whom Tevye has promised her. She has her heart set on the young, impecunious tailor, Motel. The "new way" is that children shall decide partners for themselves but will Golde, Tevye's wife accept this change in traditional values? Tevye conjures up a dream the relating of which he attempts to persuade Golde that Lazar Wolf is not a good match and that Grandmother would much prefer her granddaughter to marry the tailor.
Golde is persuaded and that is the first chink in the breakdown of traditional values. At the wedding ceremony between Motel and Tzeitel, there is a pogrom, an anti-Jewish demonstration, orchestrated by the Chief of Police which casts into doubt the stability of Jewish life in Tsarist Russia. It is certainly a portent for things to come.
Tevye's second daughter, Hodel, has fallen in love with Perchik, a political student, an activist against the repressive regime. Tevye refuses to give his permission for Hodel and Perchik to marry but they inform Tevye that they do not wish to seek his permission to marry but merely his blessing. Traditions are obviously changing. Later, Perchik is arrested and is to be sent to Siberia. Hodel intends to join him. She promises her father they will be married, under a canopy, in the traditional Jewish way, Her father accompanies her to the railway station to bid her farewell.
Chava, Tevye's third eldest daughter has fallen for Fyedka, a Russian soldier. Not only is he Russian, he is not a Jew and the bending of tradition this far is something that Tevye cannot reconcile himself to. From this point on, Chava ceases to be his daughter and is shunned.
Meanwhile, Anatevka itself is under threat. The Jews are being forced to leave their homes and many of them decide to go to live in America where many of them have friends and relations. That is to where Tevye and Golde and the two youngest children are to go. Motel and Tzeitel, who now have a child of their own, will join them. Chava and Fyedka, wanted by neither Jew nor Russian, go to live in Poland.
The Fiddler on the Roof, the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people will live on in all of them.
CAST
Tevye- Joe Phillips
Golde- Amy Birchler
Tzeitel- Amanda Cotrupi
Hodel- Meighan Esmond
Chava-Virginia Reed
Shprintze-Anna Stoneman
Bielke-Stefani DeFronzo
Yente-Debbie May
Motel- David DiPaola
Perchik-Paul Dederick
Lazar Wolf-Rick Reed
Rabbi-Ray Burns
Grandma Tzeitel-Sherry Strichtmen
Fruma-Sarah-Judi Merriam
Fyedka- Jimmy Pierce
Sasha-Jake Rafferty
Russian Priest-Bill Sanderson
Constable-Marc Destefano
Russian Soloist- Bobby Ruggles
Shanidel- Melissa Putterman-Hoffman.
Papas- Bill Depew; John Birchler; John Fowler; Bill McColl and Jonathan Riven
Mamas- Mary Beth Hampshire; Anne Gallagher; Margot Phillips; Chris DeCarlo and Kara DiCaterino;
Sons- Henry DiMaria; Eric Morte; Zach Hecht-Levitt; Chad Miller; Jackie Smith and Carly Anders
Daughters- Julie Singer; Heather Swallow; Maureen Gallagher; Lauren Dicoco and Kayla Wheeler
CREW
Director – Laura W. Andruski
Music Director Elizabeth Sears
Producer/Choreographer– Sara E. Fittizzi
Production Stage Manager – Elise Charlebois
Costume Designer – Debbie Lummis
Scenic Designer– Peter Kantor
Lighting Designer – Nick Webb
Lighting Operator- Robert Healey
Sound Operator- Jonathan Janssen
Make-up Designer– Marcia Lenehan
Board Liaison – Kate Kaufman Burns.