Memorable Musicals
The little “Popularity Survey” completed in August confirmed that the show that most viewers would like to see again was Fiddler on the Roof , so that is my choice for this month.
In case you have forgotten, here is a brief summary of the touching story of Tevye, (If I were a rich man) a poor Jewish milkman whose love for his family, his pride and strong faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the-century Tsarist Russia. In the little Jewish village of Anatevka, Tevye and his wife Golde have five daughters of whom the older three, Tzeitle, Hodel and Cheva are of marriageable age and the local village Match-maker offers her services. The three girls wait anxiously because, in their society, their father makes the final decision. Tevye really loves his family, but has to act out his role as the decision maker. Tzeitle is in love with Motel, a poor tailor, but her mother, seeking the best for her daughter, wants to pursue the Match-maker’s proposal for her to marry the elderly widower, the rich butcher Lazar Wolf. It takes an ingenious ‘dream’ on Tevye’s part to get Golde to change her mind. There are similar problems with Hodel who is attracted by their revolutionary minded “teacher” Perchik and little Cheva who loves books, is wooed by a non-Jewish admirer Fyedka.
With all these problems, including a lame old horse, we can chuckle at the earnest conversations Tevye has with the Almighty. But this village life is set against a darker background of anti-Semitic pogroms (promoted by efforts to deflect criticism of the Tsar’s corrupt regime.) The Fiddler on the Roof received many awards, and we can enjoy it for the music and dancing, as well as its human story and the poignant conclusion.
It is a long film (178 minutes), so we will start at 9.30 am. (As the sun comes up earlier these days, it shouldn’t be so difficult to get up a bit earlier!) So, I look forward to seeing you at 9.30 on Monday 20th October. As usual, the show will be in the Oak Room at Parklands.
Cheers
Dave.