BWW Reviews: Little Theatre of Manchester's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Is a Wonder of Wonders

Any visit to Anatevka should be a welcome one, of course until a Cossack gets with the pogrom and drives you out of the shtetl. Little Theatre of Manchester invites one and all back to everyone's favorite fictional Russian village via the Harnick and Bock classic Fiddler on the Roof at Cheney Hall. Although the production falls just shy of a miracle of miracles, it is pretty much a community theatre wonder of wonders.

Director John Pike provides no surprises in this sturdy production, but my guess is that Fiddler on the Roof does not allow for much in the way of curveball interpretations (although I do recall a controversial school production in Hartford using a black, female Tevye and a drag queen for Yente). For musical theatre purists, LTM's Fiddler is a straight-down-the-middle pleasure. Pike's set is a deceptively simple suggestion of the town and the home of Tevye the Milkman, complete with a roof just large enough to hold a string player. This keeps the action and transitions moving fluidly.

James R. Williams, Jr. has quite the milk cart to schlep considering that he is following in the beleaguered footsteps of Zero Mostel and Topol. The affable Mr. Williams has great stage presence and sings the peasant boots off the role, nicely modulating between the big numbers ("Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man") and the sensitive smaller moments ("Chaveleh," "Do You Love Me?"). He falls just a bit shy of a complete star turn by not fully mining the comedy inherent in Tevye. Significantly, he feels less the ethnic Russian Jew and more your American milkman-next-door. As Tevye, and all of the residents of Anatevka, are outsiders in their own homeland, this is an important distinction. With much time before the end of the run, I have no doubt Mr. Williams can get there.

The women in Tevye's family are uniformly marvelous and possess jaw-dropping voices. Erica Romeo bites down on the role of the tough Golde and has a tremendous time with it. As the daughters, Cassie Martin (Tzeitel), Bailey Emerson (Hodel) and Halley Neal (Chava), all display charm, backbone and luscious singing. Their male counterparts, West Olds (Motel), Jim Kane (Perchik) and Alex Pires (Fyedke), are a bit less distinguished in their singing and/or acting, which means their wives have their work cut out for them.

There are several scene-stealers in the show. First among them is Jayne Newirth as Yente the Matchmaker. For one of the tiniest members of the cast, her performance is head-and-shoulders the best in show. She gets the part and inhabits it fully without imitating Molly Picon's indelible turn in the film. Ken Adamson does a solid job as Lazar Wolf, the spurned butcher, and Dawn Maselli's turn as Lazar's undead wife Fruma Sarah is the stuff that nightmares are made of (meant in a good way, of course). Steve Ossias is wonderful as Anatevka's beloved and put-upon rabbi and Jim Metzler is an appropriately uncomfortable, but well-sung, Constable.

The ensemble, one of the largest I have seen on any stage in the state, does a fantastic job. The size of the crowd and the placement of Tevye's house oftentimes presents blocking and choreographic challenges that have not been solved. Choreographer Denise Eason faithfully recreates much of the traditional dance from the show, wisely keeping the showstopping bottle dance intact. Vivianna Lamb's costume work is exactly right for the show and the period. The orchestra, under the direction of Phil Rittner, is tight and provides the perfect balance between klezmer and Broadway.

With Fiddler on the Roof closing out LTM's season, one would be foolish to wait until those Tsarist Russians force the residents of Anatevka on their not-so-merry way. With all tickets under $30, you don't have to be a rich man to enjoy the show.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Theatre: Little Theatre of Manchester
Location: Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT
Production: Book by Joseph Stein, Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick; Direction and Scenic Design by John Pike; Lighting Design by Kelly Roberts Hougland; Costume Design by Vivianna Lamb; Sound Design by Ronald Schallack; Musical Direction by Phil Rittner; Choreography by Denise Eason. Through November 17; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $22-$29, call 860-647-9824 or visit www.cheneyhall.org.

Cast photo by Chris Heustis for Photosynthesis.

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