CSU Theatre's Excellent "Fiddler" More Relevant Than Ever
“Fiddler on the Roof” has always been a show of the times, and this month’s heartfelt production from CSU’s Department of Theatre is no exception. The story of 19th century Jewish family facing a rapidly changing (and eventually threatening) world, “Fiddler” seems only a half-skip away from yesterday’s headlines.
Millions of people were forced to flee their homes last year. Thousands did not survive the journey, and thousands more are still in the midst of that journey right now. As we look at a world that is reacting to change by receding, secluding, fighting and discriminating, it is nice to see a show that marries the anxieties of an uncertain future with the joy of love and life. And what a show it is.
The production, directed by Becky Becker, is a sprawling and wonderful thing. The set is minimal but manages to evoke the wide open skies and gleeful drabness one would expect from a Russian village. The wedding scene in particular is especially powerful. “Sunrise/Sunset” affected me in this show more than it ever has.
Perhaps the one most important thing to get right in a production of “Fiddler” is to cast the lead role of Tevye correctly. In this, Austin Winchester is a marvel to see. He positively radiates the gruff gentleness of the character, and Hannah Chapman, who plays his sharp-witted wife Golde, is a perfect match. The two left me absolutely awestruck from curtain to curtain.
The same could be said for the music, which is performed with live accompaniment by students from the Schwob School of Music. I sometimes forget that our student musicians are quite literally some of the best in the country. This show made me remember, and it will make you remember too. Don’t trust me on this—go see (and hear) it for yourself.
It’s not a perfect show, of course. Some actors could have benefitted from a little accent work, Motel is played a tad too caricaturish, and Tevye’s dream sequence in particular could use about three times more energy.
Nit-picks at best. There has never been a better time to see a CSU Theatre production. Sit back for the show, and then give these folks a hand. They deserve it.
