Yiddish Fiddler at the Museum of Jewish Heritage

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Maybe I missed it, but I'm surprised we aren't talking about this more! I'm really looking forward to this...and Joel Grey is directing! Do any of you folks have expectations for the production?

Steven Skybell and Jill Abramovitz star as Tevye and Golde, with Jackie Hoffman (Oh myyyy) signing on as Yente the Matchmaker.

Full press release!

[Mike3]

I saw the matinee this afternoon. It's best production of Fiddler I've ever seen.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/theater/review-yiddish-fiddler-on-the-roof.html

https://www.thedailybeast.com/fiddler-on-the-roof-in-yiddish-is-a-moving-triumph

I strongly recommend this play. 

[DramaTeach]

Going August 2nd.  Can't wait!  It's a show that I (and so many) know so well, so I don't need to be able to understand it.  The Yiddish will add more depth.

[JBroadway]

I enjoyed it a lot. It's a production with a lot of spirit, and it's a real treat to see the show done in the language of its people. The cast is great. If you hate Jackie Hoffman, you might be pleased to learn her part is quite small, and it's probably among her most restrained performances to date - which isn't saying a lot, but still. 

My only qualm is that I wish they had been given a bigger budget. The production sometimes just felt cheap. And I know it's a kind of minimalist style, but I think it is possible to achieve that without looking cheap. 

It's a small playing space, which is unusual for Fiddler, but they make good use of it. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Thanks for bumping my thread, BWWers. I was beginning to wonder why reports on here had been quiet. Everyone I've heard from echoes that this production is magnificent. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think Skybell was my Dr. Dillamond when I saw Wicked in 2007.

I'm also Facebook friends with Bruce Sabath (Lazar Wolf). He's posted pictures from opening night of Topol, Katrina Lenk, Sheldon Harnick, and many others. Something very special is at the MJH!

[Mike3]

Do not concern yourself with the language. There are subtle supertitles. But honestly, a few minutes in you will forget about the Yiddish altogether. They communicate perfectly.

[Alfie6]

I adored this production so much, even if you have seen countless Fiddler revivals before go see this! It has been on TDF a few times but those tickets go fast. My only complaint is the hideous set- basically these beige hangings that looks like paper towels. The word Torah (in Hebrew) is written on one of the hangings, not sure why they didn't go with the Hebrew word for Tradition. I have seen many  shows at the Folksbiene and the sets are usually pretty elaborate. It was a real treat seeing the show in such an intimate setting, the theater is small so no bad seats.

[GeorgeandDot]

I'd like to catch this. Do they have a rush or anything? Surprised it's not on Todaytix or anything.

[Jonathan Cohen]

I caught this last Friday, and it was the most impactful version of the musical I've seen. Yes the set was kind of drab, and yes I'm sure that's largely a product of budget limitations, but while it's lacking the big set pieces featured in the Danny Burstein starring version that was on Broadway a couple of years ago, given that the story takes place in a very poor village, a sparse, drab set is thematically more appropriate. 

More importantly, hearing the story in Yiddish made the story feel far more specific and lived in. Russians said things in Russian, in the rare instance scripture was quoted and it wasn't Tevyah making things up, the actual quote was recited in the original Hebrew. That made the second half of the play, when things get a lot more dark, that much more realistic and heartbreaking. 

Additionally, the second half ends with Tevyah leaving for America, and by the happenstance of where the museum is located, you leave the theater and are staring at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It reminded me even if that story originated from the imagination of Sholem Aleichem, stories like it were 100% real. 

 

 

[Wee Thomas2]

Bought tix in the front row for a show Labor Day Weekend (saw 'em, grabbed 'em).  They were $75/each, which is lower priced than further back.  Is it a high stage or some other reason they'd be less expensive?

[ACL2006]

I'm assuming they're looking at one of the smaller theaters. And I'd have to imagine it would be a limited run as well. We just had the Burstein revival two years ago. Can't see this running longer than 6 months on Broadway.

 

Broadway transfer?

[DramaTeach]

I actually hope this stays right where it is, and I adored the production. Fiddler fatigue hit Broadway and between the Alfred Molina and Danny Burstein versions, we don’t need another one.

The Museum Of Jewish Heritage looks at Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - a perfect view when thinking about the story of a people exiled from their land and seeking new homes. Being in the museum surrounded by Judaic paraphernalia also just gives it such a communal feeling.

Do I think the talent is equal to that of a Broadway production? Yes. But I hope it stays put and that people make the journey to check out the show and the surroundings.

[QueenAlice]

Please producers: not everything needs to be on Broadway. Leave this where it is.

[GeorgeandDot]

This production would be phenomenal in Circle in the Square, though.  They could put it up as a limited run.

[jbp1232]

Can anyone give any advice on the seating chart and stage height? The premium seats seem to be sporadically placed throughout the house with the first row just $75. I'm inclined to get front row but wanted to know if anyone would recommend opting for rear seats instead. 

[ACL2006]

The cast also seems to be a mixed bag of Broadway vets and new actors. Curious if they'd replace anyone?

[Esther2]

I was sitting in row F, last seat house right.  It was fine (and $75).  I did see that the front rows on the sides sorta slope down so it might be difficult to see over the edge of the stage.  I didn't really take notice of how the front row center was in relation to the stage height, though - sorry. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the show, even though Fiddler isn't really one of my favorites.  The cast was great.  I teared up in all the right places.  My only quibble is the translation of the lyrics - they're not right! I'm guessing they rewrite the lyrics so they rhyme in Yiddish, but the English on the screens was just wrong and it bugged me.  My issue, I realize.  After a couple of songs, I just stopped looking at the screens while they were singing.

I think this production fits perfectly in the space and Joel Grey did a remarkable directing job.  I hope it doesn't transfer.

[LightsOut90]

this show on Broadway is a delusion, somewhere like Minetta Lane, yeah sure. 

[JBroadway]

Esther2 said: "My only quibble is the translation of the lyrics - they're not right! I'm guessing they rewrite the lyrics so they rhyme in Yiddish, but the English on the screens was just wrong and it bugged me."

 

 

As you guessed, it's because of the rhyme scheme, as well as the meter (i.e, making sure it's the right number of syllables to fit the melody). If you read the program notes, they explain why they decided to use the literal translation in the supertitles instead of the original English. I also found it a teency bit distracting, but mainly because I was so curious about how the meaning changed that I was paying really close attention to it. 

 

[Sondheimite]

Could this transfer to Barrow Street? 

[RippedMan]

Sounds to me like the design isn't great, so I don't know why they'd transfer that to Broadway. Maybe to Minetta Lane? Or something like that? 

[GeorgeandDot]

I would imagine that they would alter the design for a Broadway house.

[RippedMan]

But the recent revival wasn't a success, so I don't know why they'd think putting it into a very specific language that most Americans don't know, would somehow make it a hit? It seems to be doing just fine where it is. 

[macnyc]

I saw the show today and loved it. It's a joyful, rousing production. Steven Skybell is terrific as Tevye. His dream sequence is hilarious and clever. 

Fiddler is such a well-constructed show. People say that She Loves Me is the perfect musical, but I would choose Fiddler over it.

And this is the perfect theater for this production. I can't see it moving to Broadway. I wish it would extend at the Museum for Jewish Heritage, but I don't know how the numbers would work out. It must be fairly expensive to produce  I counted 14 musicians in the orchestra! And they sounded great.

As far as seating goes, the first row is great, as long as you're in the middle section. The stage is low and there's a lot of space before the seating starts. I sat on the side, Row C, but it's actually the second row. It was a bit close, which I happen to like, but you have to turn your head in order to see the stage.  My neck started to hurt after a while. Plus, occasionally the actors blocked my view of the translation. It wasn't a big deal, because I could turn my head to read the translation on the other side of the stage, but then you're turning your head back and forth constantly. Luckily, these parts were brief. 

But that's a mere quibble. Grab any seats you can before they sell out. Don't miss this! It's a real treat. 

 

 

 

 

[dramamama611]

This was freaking amazing! I loved, loved,loved this. Possibly my favorite production I've ever seen.

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