LEWISTON – Many of us have grown up with the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” and its songs and images have become as much a part of the Jewish-American culture as menorahs and bagels.
The Community Little Theatre production of “Fiddler” is every bit as memorable as one might recall from previous productions or recordings. Under the stage direction of Paul G. Caron and musical direction by Colin Britt, this production has a life of its own that’s visually stunning, poignant in its message and pleasing to the ear.
The story centers on Tevye (Richard J. Messana) and his wife, Golde (Deb Kramlich), and their five daughters in czarist Russia of the early 1900s in their small village of Anateveka. Tevye’s world is filled with struggles to earn a living and to maintain his Jewish traditions as the larger world around him is rapidly changing.
Having arranged a good marriage for Tzeitel (CarlaRose Ricciuti) with the town’s widowed butcher, Lazar Wolf (Stan Spilecki), Tevye is troubled by the news that she won’t marry the old man; in fact, she has pledged herself to Motel (Marcel Dubois), a poor tailor.
Tevye’s breaking point
When daughter Hodel (Rachel Hanscom) and Perchik (Lloyd Chute), a graduate of Kiev University with newfangled ideas, decide to marry, they ask Tevye only for his blessing, not his permission.
And pushing Tevye to his breaking point is daughter Chava (Rylee Doiron) who chooses to marry Fyedka (Jason Riethmann), a non-Jewish Russian soldier.
There’s everything to love about this story, and everything to love in this production.
Messana is absolutely brilliant as Tevye and among the best I’ve ever seen in regional or New York City stages. His portrayal is well-measured, balancing his character’s commitment to tradition and his willingness to change with the times. Messana is a joy to watch as he skillfully commands the stage, and he’s outstanding in the signature number, “If I Were A Rich Man.”
In supporting roles, Spilecki is a very convincing Lazar Wolf, while Kramlich is a perfectly strong Golde. Among the daughters, Hanscom is the strongest vocally and very powerful in her solo number, “Far From the Home I Love.”
Incredible staging
And well worth the price of admission is Joline Caron, as Fruma Sarah, in the dream sequence that Tevye creates to convince his wife that their daughter should not marry Lazar Wolf. Not only is the staging of this number incredible but Caron nails this number as a real showstopper.
Choreographer Annette Bourque works wonders with this cast while using much of Jerome Robbins’ original choreography. Colin Britt’s orchestra is melodic and robust, including an onstage fiddler, Frances DeRook. The stage is a striking tableau with Bill Hamilton’s stage design and Richard Martin’s lighting expertise.
Director Paul G. Caron has created a “Fiddler” that’s timeless, especially in light of modern-day issues of acceptance and tolerance. And while he tries to expand on this idea with a slight variation in the ending of the play, I’d prefer leaving the ending as it was originally intended.
“Fiddler on the Roof” continues with performances at the Lewiston Middle School Auditorium through Sunday. For tickets, call the box office at 783-0958
Dan Marois is an actor, writer, and producer and owner of Main Street Entertainment and Mystery for Hire. He can be reached at [email protected].
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