By Marnie Thomas and Kendall Harris
Fiddler on the Roof is a well-loved musical about Tevye, a Jewish milkman in Tsarist Russia, and his family and town. The music is familiar to most, as are the characters. The Broadway production first opened in 1964 and won nine Tony Awards. In 1971, it was made into a highly successful screen adaptation.
The Sundance venue is undeniably gorgeous. Could this production of Fiddler on the Roof, directed by James Arrington, stand up to the beauty of the Sundance amphitheater in the mountains? As we sat waiting for the performance to begin, we enjoyed the scenery around us and anticipated the opening strains of “Tradition.”
As the opening song began, we could tell that this was going to be a musically satisfying experience. “Tradition” is the big opening number, including the entire cast. Tevye, played by David Stensrud, has the perfect look for the part. Everything about him is grand—from his voice to his stage persona. His wife Golde, played by Marcie Jacobsen, is a good match. Together they make an impressive couple. This is evident as they sing “Do you Love Me?”.
The daughters, particularly the eldest three, are delightfully played by Danica Donaldson, Kaitlyn Dahl, Sariah Hopkin, Grace Garn and Mattea Denney. They sing “Matchmaker” with an exuberance and joy that can’t help but bring a smile. Hodel and Chava (Dahl and Hopkin) perform with just the right level of emotion as they challenge their father’s traditional ways.
Although Yente, the matchmaker, is not a huge part of the production, she is a very memorable character. The show really centers around the idea of making matches for the daughters—and the daughters challenging that tradition. Melany Wilkins’ Yente has the attitude and the accent down pat.
The daughter’s suitors are played by Jon Rose (Motel), Jack Shapiro (Perchik) and Chase Ramsey (Fyedka). Each match challenges the Jewish traditions of the time more strongly. Although all were performed very well, Perchik’s personality came across most clearly.
The rabbi and his son (Curtis Adams and Javier Ybarra) have a stabilizing effect on the village. They are there encouraging, celebrating and sympathizing with the villagers. They also look the parts. The son truly expressed a solicitous feeling toward his father, the rabbi.
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Lazar Wolf (Jake Suazo) is another standout in the show. He has a great presence and look, as does Tevye. This made their performance of “To Life” very enjoyable. A big, classic show like Fiddler on the Roof calls for strong characters, and these two actors definitely deliver.
“Tevyes’s Dream” was done in a unique way and kudos to Arrington for this choice. The characters in the dream are portrayed differently than you might expect. It adds an interesting and amusing twist to this comedic part of the show. Fruma Sarah’s (Hannah Gassaway) costume is something to behold. In fact, the skill of the costume designer (Becca Klepko) is evident, not only in this, but in the costuming of the entire troupe. Grandma Tzeital (Laura Warr) played her part with a mischievousness that really added a special something to the scene.
A word about the set and lighting. Both are simple but very effective. The set designer (Stephen Purdy) did an excellent job creating a set that could be manipulated to accommodate the various settings in the show. The buildings look very cozy with the warm lighting showing through in the nighttime scenes.
Fiddler on the Roof really runs the gamut of emotion. From joy to sorrow and contentment to frustration, this cast does not fail to pull the audience in and make us feel what the characters are feeling. Another triumph for UVU theatre, so again, kudos to director James Arrington. With the beautiful location and the talented actors and technicians, you will be glad that you went to see this show!
Sundance Resort
8841 North Alpine Loop Rd, Provo, Utah 84604
July 24-August 16th; performances will be held each Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM
Ticket prices $21-$30
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