FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. To 14 April.
London
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
book by Joseph Stein lyrics by Sheldon Harnick music by Jerry Bock
Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane, Fleet Street, London EC4
Wed-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2 hrs 10 mins One Interval
Review: Geoff Ambler 12 April 2007
With the NYMT, the future of musical theatre is in good hands.
Fiddler is a powerful show, encompassing faith, family and the importance of tradition, set in the impoverished Jewish community of Anatevka, in pre-revolutionary Russia. The Bridewell’s simple set uses a number of screens behind which village life continues through the show.
This happens noticeably during the Sabbath Prayer where the community of Anatevka are visible, blessing their food, in their own rooms lit by candlelight and bowed in prayer. Such simplicity in staging continues through the show, befitting the poverty surrounding its characters’ daily lives
For the National Youth Music Theatre, with a cast containing no-one older than 19, it could have been a challenge to produce something approaching realism, but a number of outstanding performances and a strong ensemble means this is never an issue. Matthew Nalton’s milkman Tevye (whose frequent conversations with God about his lame horse are full of humour), despite an occasionally shifting accent, is fine throughout, comically beleaguered yet devout. Jasmine Gur is memorable in her angry interpretation of his wife Golde.
Of Tevye’s 5 daughters, 3 are marriageable: Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava, played by Sarah Harris, Cordelia Farnworth and Katie Hall. All sing well together in ‘Matchmaker, Matchmaker’. However Farnworth also has the best song in the show,’ Far From The Home I Love’, delivering it with passion, a beautiful voice and the emotion this number demands.
Iain Carson inhabits his contrasting roles as the aged Rabbi and proud young Russian Fyedka with distinction. Ashleigh Owen is distinctive as Yente the Matchmaker, her aged gossip being every bit the crone the part demands.
The NYMT cast excel in the ensemble numbers, particularly the opening ‘Tradition’, ‘To Life’ and the outstanding dream sequence, where Tevye convinces his wife Golde, by making up an elaborate nightmare, that their eldest daughter should marry the man she loves and not the match arranged by Yente. It‘s an elaborate ensemble piece, filled with inventive choreography, making it a high spot of the show.
Tevye: Matthew Nalton
Golde: Jasmine Gur
Tzeital: Sarah Harris
Hodel: Cordelia Farnworth
Chava: Katie Hall
Bielke: Robyn Cunningham
Shprintze: Harriet Ellis
Motel: Nicholas Corre
Shandel: Tamsin Topolski
Pelia: Georgie Wadstein
Shalev: Nicholas Hockaday
Reb Mordcha: Edward Currie
Malka/Vasily: Beth Burrows
Mirala/Alexi: Emily Barber
Raziel: Jordan Bosher
Rabbi/Fyedka: Iain Carson
Vardiya: Melissa Taylor
Mendel: Christopher Earlie
Avram: Greg Link
Rivka: Amy Kakoura
Yussel: Charlie Hiett
Galya: Rachel McDermott
Ruchel/Sasha: Eleanor Sanders
Noam: Archie Sullivan
Lazar Wolf: Thomas Isherwood
Yente: Ashleigh Owen
Perchick: Aiden Crawford
The Constable/The Beggar: Matthew Newton
Director: Caroline Leslie
Designer: Laura Shimmen
Choreographer: Lee Crowley
Musical Director: Steve Dummer
Vocal Coach: Jeremy Walker
2007-04-16 01:53:22