Fiddler on the Roof

 

The cast is only 11 strong. The orchestra is a single piano, with a violin for occasional poignant moments. The Russian village of Anatevka is represented by a table, an antique steamer trunk and a few chairs. And as Motel the Tailor sings, "Out of a simple lump of clay, God has made a man today," director Deanna Jent has magically arranged these simple ingredients into what often feels like a full-fledged production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

The absolutely charming production opened the Mustard Seed Theatre's 2009-10 season in the Fontbonne College theater on Friday, and will run through Nov. 22.

I cannot count how many times I've seen the Joseph Stein (book)-Jerry Bock (music)-Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) musical, based on some Sholom Aleichem stories, but when I first saw it, about a fortnight after it opened on Broadway in September, 1964, the cast totaled 45 people, led by the great Zero Mostel as Tevye, the dairyman.

There are pluses and minuses to stripping a giant production almost to an absolute minimum, but Jent's assemblage of talented, hard-working, versatile actors, aided immeasurably by the incredible Joe Dreyer as the pianist is the biggest plus. Their vocal work, with meticulous diction, makes each of Harnick's lyrics clear and understandable.

The minuses show up a few times when actors, changing character and costume with the speed of light, don't quite make the character change completely, leaving one thinking, "Hey, wasn't this guy that guy about 40 seconds ago?"

Jerry Russo is a glorious Tevye, his moods shifting with the speed of a daughter's smile, or a daughter's tear. His accent is well-nigh perfect, and he has absorbed this difficult role to perfection. More than just remembering his lines and cues, he has absorbed the character of the humble Russian Jew, honoring his God but also willing to humor and cajole Him, or even to yell in times of extreme stress. Lavonne Beyers is excellent in support as Golde, his wife of 25 years. Their strange, yet tender duet, "Do You Love Me?" is a high spot.

Laura Sexauer, Julie Venegoni and Natasha Toro are the three elder daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava, respectively, and their clear, bright voices add a lilting presence. Sexauer and Toro, with the help of a pair of rag dolls, also become the younger daughters in one scene, listening to Perchik, the scholar from Kiev (Paul Pagano) discuss the evil ways of landlords and employers.

Ryan Cooper, only a college sophomore, brings a standout performance to the character of Motel the Tailor, the young man whose love for Tzeitel is so strong that it gives him the courage to stand up to the fierce Tevye, who turns suddenly from lion to pussy cat when he realizes how much she loves the humble tailor.

Dylan Duke, Eleanor Mullin, Michael Brightman and Richard Lewis bring good work, the quartet adopting 10 different roles along the way.

Jent's direction is brilliant, with the configuration of the theater set to have half the audience facing the other half, the cast in the middle and having to work almost in two directions at once most of the time. The feat is carried off stylishly, and the husband-wife team of Michael and Jane Sullivan add to the pleasure with lights and costumes, respectively, that bring life to Dunsi Dai's set, a minimalist creation that allows the cast to perform in a maximum manner.

A splendid evening of theater.

A production of the Mustard Seed Theatre at Fontbonne University through Nov. 22

-Joe

Comments

[Larry Marsh]

Joe,

I am directing a production of "On Borrowed Time" at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, opening November 6.

It's going to be an excellent show, I think, and worth seeing.

Thanks.

Larry Marsh
Hawthorne Players