Fiddler on the Roof, which is directed by Jordan Fein, is the newest revival of this classic musical, with book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Staged at the outdoor Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, this revival is a glorious and stunning production that feels as urgent and important as ever.
Fiddler on the Roof follows the Tevye, an aging and poor Jewish milkman in the town of Anatevka, his wife Golde and five young daughters. Desperate to keep his family afloat, Tevye is a hardworking man and Golde seeks the assistance of the village matchmaker Yente to help find rich matches for the five daughters. Tevye's three eldest daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava each seek to stray from tradition and find love. Set in 1905, the tensions between Russians and Jews arise, leading an unsettling undercurrent that cuts through the warmth of family and community spirit.
The cast are marvellous together and are spectacular during full ensemble numbers such as Tradition, The Dream and Anatevka. Aptly creating a village, this large ensemble helps to better understand and connect with the characters and story, and provides a gateway to enter their intimate world.
Adam Dannheisser as Tevye is nothing short of miracle casting, with a captivating and dynamic stage presence. Dannheisser becomes Tevye and truly leads the show with a strong hand, he steals the show at every turn. Majestic vocals and incredible acting, Dannheisser is perfect as Tevye. Lara Pulver shines as the quick-tongued and sensible Golde, particularly in the duet Do You Love Me?, highlighting her hesitation, devotion and love for Tevye.
Liv Andrusier (Tzeitel) and Georgia Bruce (Hodel) are both formidable as the two eldest of Tevye's daughters, bringing passionate fire to their performances. Both Andrusier and Bruce perform tremendously well, embolden and empowered by their love, but allowing vulnerability and fear to slip in as well. Hannah Bristow as Chava, the third daughter, has a quieter but equally fiery performance and portrays a moving array of emotions as she becomes estranged from her family.
Dan Wolff as Motel, the timid poor tailor, brings a rush of fresh air to the performance with his shy performance. Understandably, when he stands up to Tevye for Tzeitel, he instantly wins the audience over. Gregor Milne as Fyedka, a Russian youth who falls for Chava, is a charming performer whose peaceful presence is enjoyable to watch. Daniel Krikler as Perchik delivers a winning performance as the radical university student. Pushing boundaries of tradition, and determined to be part of the revolution for a new world, Krikler's heartfelt energetic performance moves the musical in a new direction. Krikler's endless charm, wit and triple threat talent renders him one of the shows best performances.
Raphael Papo as the Fiddler demonstrates incredible talent and poise as he wanders through the streets and homes of Anatevka playing his violin. Whether it be his opening of the show, performing in the wedding, or even playing whilst lying down, Papo is mesmerising as the unnamed and unknown fiddler. Beverley Klein as Yente the matchmaker is another outstanding casting choice, with her astonishing vocals and energetic performance.
The staging is majestic (Tom Scutt), utilising the outdoor theatre well. A "roof" is formed by a curved staging, with wheat growing upon it in tall rows and a massive tree trunk and pillar to support this. Anatevka is etched under this roof and on the main stage flooring, a symbolism of how integral the community is to the plot. Another slope of wheat completes the set, allowing characters easy access to the roof, and creating depth to the stage.
Costumes (Tom Scutt) and wigs, hair and make up (Nina Van Houten) have created an individual identity for each character, including the larger crowd of villages and the few Russian youths, allowing audiences to clearly identify and differentiate characters even from afar. Sound (Nick Lidster) has been meticulously designed. Despite being an open air theatre, Lidster ensures that the sound feels centered and engulfs the audience. Overpowering any external distractions, yet never overwhelming, Lidster ensures that the sound is clear and crisp.
Lighting design (Aideen Malone) leans into natural light well, only carefully employing it when the sun begins to set. Creating a dramatic dream turned nightmare sequence, Malone utilises fog to help create a density for the light to weigh in. Malone also manages to use impressive array of tricks to create a red glow amongst the wheat, denoting the fires. Amusingly, the number Sunrise, Sunset coincides with the sunset, adding another brilliant layer to the production.
The musical numbers are each impressive and timeless classics that are so integrated in musical theatre, and this production celebrates the glory of the songs. With musical direction by Dan Turek and choreography by Julia Cheng, each song is given the time to breathe and thrive on its own with the talented cast performing. Particularly impressive are To Life, The Dream and The Wedding, with impressive and energetic choreography. The band is present on stage, although partly hidden under the darker corners of the curved roof, and create a wonderful rendition of the songs.
Fiddler on the Roof is a spectacular production that is glorious in every right. A powerful, moving and soul-stirring musical that has been done justice with masterpiece of a revival. Fiddler on the Roof is currently playing at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 21st September - for tickets and more information, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Marc Brenner
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