Tevye has a lot on his plate.
Beyond keeping up with his job as a
milkman and striving to maintain a good reputation in his little Russian
village of Anatevka, Tevye must face a world that is rapidly changing.
He strives to adhere to his Jewish
faith and take care of his family, which includes a wife with a mind of her
own, and five daughters – three of marriageable age.
Tevye hopes his daughters will be
paired with suitable husbands through the local matchmaker – as tradition
dictates. But the heart wants what it wants; his daughters fall in love with
men Tevye would never choose for them, and insist on defying their dad.
In addition to all that, he and his
family are living in early-20th-century Czarist Russia, where Jews
are facing increasing discrimination – and even threats of violence and
expulsion.
What’s a man with all these problems to
do? Sing about them, of course!
And sing he does. Tevye is a big-hearted,
funny philosopher who is devoted to God, family and community. As a
musical-theater character, he has a lot to puzzle out in front of the audience,
and a lot to get off his chest. He sings about his dreams, his fears and his
attempt to balance all his challenges – like a fiddler perching on a roof.
“Fiddler on the Roof,” which opened in
1964, won nine Tony Awards. It was the first Broadway run of a musical to hit
the 3,000-performance mark. For many years, it was the longest-running musical
on Broadway. Since then, it has had four Broadway revivals and countless tours,
and has become a favorite of high school, community and professional theater
groups.
This is all a testament to the staying
power of this popular, poignant, funny musical that’s full of memorable
showtunes from “If I Were a Rich Man” to “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Matchmaker,
Matchmaker.”
Pat Kautter, a veteran director and
choreographer in local theater, has assembled a cast of EPAC veterans and new
faces for the “Fiddler” production opening tonight at the Sharadin Bigler
Theatre.
And starring in the show is EPAC’s own
artistic director, Edward Fernandez, who moves from his usual spot in the
director’s chair to the stage, bringing Tevye’s unique view of the world to life.
Those of you who know Ed know he has a personality every bit as big as Tevye’s –
so his portrayal of the milkman is a match made in heaven.
“Fiddler” tickets are selling briskly,
and some performances are selling out. So if you want to experience this final
show of the 2013 season, be sure to visit the EPAC website right away to find
showtimes and order tickets, or call the box office at (717) 733-7966. Tickets
to the show, which runs through Dec. 21, would make a great holiday gift for a
loved one! Don’t miss it!
Merv Wright
