|
Fiddler on the Roof
Book by Joseph Stein
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Directed by William Pullinsi
Choreographed by Linda Parsons
Musical Director William A. Underwood
At The Theatre at the Center
1040 Ridge Road
Munster, IN
Call 219-836-3255, tickets $36 - $39
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 2 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 2:30 pm
Special Thursday 7:30 pm (March 1)
Saturday at 2:30 pm (Feb 24 & Mar 10_
Friday at 2:30 (Feb 16)
Running time is 2 hours, 40 minutes with intermission
Through March 11, 2007
Triumphant return to the stage by Lee Pelty brings back memories
Lee Pelty and William Pullinsi have a long history from their days at Candle Light Dinner Playhouse where Pelty first performed Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof in 1970. That show ran for 22 months. Pelty has player Tevye 15 times. He still has the voice, the charismatic stage presence and his Tevye is a marvel to be hold. It is so nice to see him on stage after more than a decade away. He is the reason to see this production of Sholem Aleichem’s story of the milkman in 1905 Russia with five daughters.
 |
This Fiddler has a stellar cast of old-time Candlelight Dinner Playhouse actors from Iris Lieberman (Golde) to Dale Benson (Rabbi) to Renee Matthews (Yente, the matchmaker) to the young performers like Amy Olsen (Tzeital) to Jon Cunningham (Motel) to Kenneth Z. Kendall (Perchil)—all offer an emotional based Fiddler that respects the material as it delivers the ironic Jewish humor and the pain of living in a rural village. Theatre at the Center’s production is quite true to the original as it lets the material shine.
Filled with many exhilarating tunes such as “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker’ and the rousing “To Life,” Fiddler is a cherished musical that laments the pain and struggles of oppressed peoples everywhere. We see Tevye struggling to balance his faith and way of life with his love for his daughters who eagerly embrace the contemporary world. Lee Pelty’s Tevye conveys the milkman’s angst. Filled with rich vocals and fine movement, director Pullinsi captures the essence of the classic work. This Fiddler scratches out a lovely, heartwarming evening. It was a nostalgic evening for me as it brought back my fond memories of Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. I saw Fiddler in 1970 starring Lee Pelty. I was a tad younger than. Fiddler still enchants me every time I see it. Lee Pelty makes this production special.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2007
|
