By Cari Lynn Pace
This timely and fact-based story of a Jewish village in 1905 Imperialist Russia is heartbreaking and hopeful. It’s a tale of young love that transcends bias and ignites sparks of idealism to challenge traditional thinking.
Fiddler on the Roof won awards with beloved songs like “Sunrise, Sunset” and “If I Were a Rich Man” when it debuted on Broadway 60 years ago. It became the longest-running musical for ten years. The superb production at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley is a must-see for many reasons.
“The superb production at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley is a must see…”
The massive cast of actors – an astonishing 50 biographies are in the program –acts, sings, and dances with precision and high spirits. There is so much talent that eleven leading roles are double-cast, so you might have to see the show twice.
The impressive stage work belies their youthful ages from grade school through high school. There are even a couple of veteran actors in the show. Perhaps it is the beards that fooled me? More likely, it is the eight weeks of rehearsal under director, producer and co-choreographer Rebecca Gilbert. Kudos also to co-choreographer Erin Gentry for the cast’s high-stepping energy.
It’s impressive how all this talent can fit on the Throckmorton stage. Set designers Steve Coleman and Jean-Paul LaRosee are wizards at their craft. When costume designer Lyre Allston adds her skills, the audience is immersed in the village of Anatevka with its determined residents.
Another highlight of this production is the nine-piece band under the alternating musical direction of Desiree Goyette and Noah Bossert. Taking place front and center, the music fills the house yet never overwhelms the songs, adding haunting melodies with the violins, clarinet, mandolin, accordion, and more.
As the classic story unfolds, Tevye, a poor milkman eking out a living, has five daughters and the responsibility of finding suitable husbands for them. Tradition commands the father must choose, giving his approval and blessing. Along with his wife Golde they face the village’s limited prospects of suitable mates, urged by the matchmaker Yente. The eldest daughters have their ideas of spouses, chafing at the tight rope of tradition until it snaps.
The Russians are also tightening their territorial ropes, causing mayhem and upheaval against the settlement. The culmination of the harassment forces a resigned exodus from the village. This reviewer’s own father-in-law, born in the Ukraine during this period, supports the story’s sad basis in truth. The imagined Anatevka is like many other villages under duress today.
Don’t miss Fiddler on the Roof, an energetic show with belief in a hopeful future for all who are displaced.
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ASR Senior Writer & Editor Cari Lynn Pace is a voting member of SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and writes theatre and lifestyle reviews for the Marinscope Community Newspapers throughout Marin County.
| Production | Fiddler on the Roof |
|---|---|
| Written by | Joseph Stein |
| Directed by | Rebecca Gilbert |
| Music/Lyrics by | Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick |
| Producing Company | Throckmorton Theatre |
| Production Dates | Thru May 26th |
| Production Address | 142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley CA 94941 |
| Website | http://www.throckmortontheatre.org/ |
| Tickets | $25-$30 |
| Reviewer Score | Max in each category is 5/5 |
| Overall | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | 4.5/5 |
| Script | 4.5/5 |
| Stagecraft | 4.5/5 |
| Aisle Seat Review PICK? | YES! |