Fiddler on the Roof returns to the Cabrillo Stage
By Mindy Pedlar
Following the resounding success of their 35th Anniversary season opener, CHICAGO, Cabrillo Stage continues the tradition of quality, Broadway style productions with the musical masterpiece, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Beloved by audiences the world over, Fiddler is a heartwarming story of a persecuted people; papas and mamas, daughters and sons trying to survive as a community while struggling with their traditional values and roles. It is a story dedicated to tradition, love, laughter, and most importantly To Life!
Based on the book, Tevye’s Daughters and collected stories by the great Yiddish author, Sholem Aleichem, the story takes place at the beginning of the Twentieth Century in the small village of Anatevka in the pre-revolutionary Russia of the Tsars.
At the story’s center is Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman with five daughters, who is striving to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family’s lives. He is challenged by his three older daughters who, against tradition, want to marry for love. He must cope with a changing world and ultimately the edict of the Tsar that evicts all the Jews from their village, their home.
The role of Tevye will be played by returning thespian favorite, Adam Campbell. He states, “Tevye is a dream role for me because of the spiritual and emotional challenges he presents to me as an actor. I usually play severely tragic roles like Sweeney Todd and Jean Valjean and there’s not much room for humor in their intense situations. Tevye is in love with life and endures all of his hardships with a good-natured humor and a charming sense of irony. It is a challenge that I have enjoyed sinking my teeth into.”
Campbell admits to being a little nervous about portraying a role with such rich history and symbolic meaning. “To attempt to portray some of the hardships that many Jews have known is a big deal and I want to give Tevye every ounce of respect and power that he deserves.” With Mr. Campbell’s dynamic stage presence and glorious voice in the lead, and under the fine direction of Kikau Alvaro, this show promises to be a gem.
Winner of 9 Tony awards, Fiddler is the brainchild of Broadway legends Jerome Robbins, Harold Prince, songwriters Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick and bookwriter Joseph Stein. The Tonys garnered included Best Musical and Best Choreography. In fact, Jerome Robbin’s original choreography is considered to be such an integral part of the telling of this tale, that all productions must agree to use his original work.
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Fiddler speaks to the deepest conflicts and desires of its time: the fraying of tradition, generational tension and the loss of roots. Don’t miss this classic production at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater from July 21 through August 14. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m.. Tickets are available on line at www.cabrillostage.com, or at the box office 831-479-6154.