Review by Daz Gale
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Another summer at the always glorious Regent’s Park Open air Theatre prepares to come to a close with the third and final production of the season – an eagerly anticipated new production of the timeless classic Fiddler On the Roof. Previous seasons at the theatre have, in my opinion at least, saved the best for last with last year’s La Cage Aux Foilles and 2022’s Antigone blowing me away. Could this year’s offering continue the tradition?
Beginning its life on Broadway in 1964 and debuting in the West End 3 years later, Fiddler On The Roof has been loved by audiences for generations, enjoying multiple revivals on both sides of the Atlantic in the decades since. Set in 1905 in the tiny village of Anatevka, it sees Jewish milkman Tevye attempting to maintain traditions as his beliefs get tested in a changing world, with his family and the very community he roots himself in threatened by this shifting dynamic.
Though it is set nearly 120 years ago and was written more than 60 years ago, the story and messages in Fiddler On The Roof remain every bit as poignant and timely today. This production attempts to try something new in a different setting with the original, while retaining the essence of the story and not losing the heart of it. Joseph Stein’s rich book allows plenty to draw from, with comedy and tragedy blending together to create a varied world reflective of life itself. The heart of the story is a message of love, family and community and that shines through both in Stein’s original writing and how it has been interpreted in this production.
Another factor in the enduring success of Fiddler On The Roof is in its classic songs. Created by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, it features some of the all time greats. Classic numbers ‘Matchmaker, Matchmaker’ and ‘if I Were A Rich Man’ have the benefit of evoking a sense of nostalgia that only adds to their impact. The fact both of these are rattled off in the first 15 minutes of the show sets the bar ridiculously high, but never waivers. The beautiful ‘Sunrise. Sunset’ and the show stopping ‘To Life’ ensure the glorious music gets the treatment it deserves, sounding truly incredible with Dan Turek’s musical direction. One inspired choice in this production is the increased prominence of the Fiddler, with Raphael Papo appearing in places other than the roof to create a beautiful dynamic, adding to the story with his fiddling.
One of the most magical aspects of this production is in its design. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is a beauty of a setting, with many shows before finding new and interesting ways to stage their productions. Fiddler On The Roof is one of the greatest I have seen in this theatre to date. With a truly spectacular stage, striking in its simplicity, the visual aesthetic is incredibly thrilling and perfect for getting the balance of retaining the heart of Fiddler while bringing something new to it. Tom Scutt’s fantastic design of this stage is matched by his exquisite costume design. The visuals come to life, as they so often do at this theatre, with a gorgeous use of lighting from Aideen Malone, coming to life as the sky gets increasingly darker, as does the story in itself. With cast members coming out of the darkness with candles at times, the beautiful setting of Regent’s Park brings something extra to the story, ensuring it is always visually astounding.
Jordan Fein’s direction is bold in its execution, always exciting with its choices and never afraid to try something different. This brings something fresh to Fiddler, especially when working with Julia Cheng’s choreography to create a new world that works miraculously well. It is in numbers like the standout ‘To Life’ where this is played out to its full potential, showing a creative time on the same page and using their own skills and each other’s to ensure theatre magic can be made. The iconic ‘Bottle Dance’ in the show has been inspired by Jerome Robbins’ original choreography in an incredibly satisfying sequence that ensured every audience member had a huge smile on their face throughout.
While I was blown away by the majority of choices here and particularly loved the direction throughout, not every element worked as well for me. While the comedy aspects were at its best and the heart of the story was allowed to play out, at times it felt like the story lacked emotion. This was most apparent in the ending of the show which for some reason didn’t resonate with me like it should have done. While that may speak more for my own heartless nature, I desperately wanted to feel something during this heartbreaking climax and had done in the last production of the show I saw, but for some reason, while it was still fantastically staged, it came across colder than I had hoped. There is an argument this was deliberately harsh to speak for the brutality of the situation but, for me at least, more emotion would have further elevated this already brilliant production.
Adam Dannheisser leads the cast as Tevye in a commanding and charismatic performance. With a natural charm, he beautifully embodies the papa with a real wit to the comedic lines and getting the complexities of the character flawlessly. This naturalistic performance allows him to connect with all his fellow cast members as well as the audience, with every look at them understated but effective. Lara Pulver holds her own against Dannheisser’s powerhouse performance with a stunning turn as Tevye’s wife Golde. The pairs duet ‘Do You Love Me?’ was a musical highlight, perfectly allowing both actors to display their talents as they banter and bicker throughout.
Liv Andrusier thrills with a standout performance as Tzeitel, showcasing her incredible talents as a performer, her turn in ‘The Dream’ sequence ensured a masterclass performance in both comedy and power. Hannah Bristow and Georgie Bruce delight as fellow daughters Chava and Hodel, with Dan Wolff a highlight as Tzeitel’s eventual beloved, Motel. Daniel Krikler has an effortless charm as Perchik, lighting up the stage with every appearance, while Beverley Klein gives a brilliantly larger-than-life performance as Yente, delivering the biggest laughs of the evening with her note-perfect portrayal. Truth be told, this is a cast where every member, leading and ensemble, gets their turn to shine. For a show about community, the community in this cast is evident to see and is one of the reasons why this production is such a resounding success.
There is an obvious comparison with this production of Fiddler On The Roof to the story itself and that is balancing out tradition, while navigating changes. This adds an extra layer to the story with bold direction bringing something new to a classic. Fantastic staging and a striking setting as well as the stunning cast leads to a perfect match, making this yet another glorious production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. A beautiful way to end the season and a fitting way to pay tribute to such a timeless classic as this. Had there been a roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, it would have been truly blown off by these incredible performances… though where would that have left the fiddler?
Fiddler On The Roof plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 21st September. Tickets from www.openairtheatre.com
Photos by Marc Brenner
Thanks for the detailed guide. Very useful! Solar