Fiddler on the Roof
27 - 30 September 2007
Ilford Recorder - 4 October 2007
Review by Sue Leeman
Fiddlers epic as magic as ever
It's a perennial favourite that's been filling theatres for decades.
And Ilford turned out in force for Woodford Operatic and Dramatic Society's take on Fiddler on the Roof at the Kenneth More Theatre last week.
This production was blessed with a strong cast and the directing talents of Bill Edwards, who wisely shied away from the over-sentimentalising that has marred other local productions. Playing it straight and honest really worked - the story still sparkles and the pathos is very clear.
The scene is the small Russian village of Anatevka, the time 1905, as the last Tsar of all the Russias ratchets up the terror.
Daryl Kane was a great choice for Tevye, the wisecracking milkman who does daily verbal battle with his wife and five daughters - in between berating God for his poor finances.
Since Tevye is the lynchpin of this piece, it is vital to have a strong performer in the role and Daryl came up trumps - he made us believe he was Tevye and he sang beautifully.
You know from the way your Tevye sings Tradition soon after curtain-up how he will work out, and Daryl did a nicely judged version, not relying too much on the more famous performances of people like Topol. He made it his own.
Tevye's wife Golde was played with great charm and conviction by Bessie Lewin, but occasionally I wanted Bessie to break free of her innate English restraint, which sits uneasily with the towering personality (and occasional rage) of a character like Golde.
But it was a very likeable performance, as were those of Kerrie Game, Sasha Brenner and Sarah Prior as Tevye's older daughters Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava. They were all charming and very convincing in their roles and sang beautifully - Matchmaker, Matchmaker was a nice example of their combined talents.
Dawn Young made an excellent Yente, the matchmaker in question, and I enjoyed Terry Lovell's trembling performance as Motel, the poor tailor who woos and wins Tzeitel.
Callum McFadyen played the stridently socialist incomer Perchik with equal helpings of anger and tenderness - his scenes with the smitten Hodel were very touching.
Jason Markham was appropriately strident as wealthy butcher and loser in love Lazar Wolf, and Malcolm Woodfield made a splendid rabbi, doling out dollops of humour along with advice.
Martyn Stewart was good as Mendel and Tony O'Connell and Robert Brown were good as Avrahm and Nachum, while Ruth Freeman terrorised all and sundry as the ghost of Fruma-Sarah, Lazar Wolf's late wife.
Great scenery from Paul Lazell and Scene Change Studios enhanced the performance and Dave Palmer was responsible for the subtly effective lighting.