A SMOKEY film surrounds Fiddler on the Roof’s phenomenal cast of 20 as they make the slow and painful walk away from their town of Anatevka and off the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre stage. Seconds later the 1,300-strong audience is on its feet in a standing ovation. Jordan Fein's production is a triumph.
For 2 hours and 40 minutes a small wooden stage in the middle of a bustling London park is transformed into 1905 Russia, at the time of Tsar Nicholas II’s pogroms. Rumours are swirling entire nearby Jewish communities have been forced out of Russia . Yet we’re brought into the lives of poor milkman Tevye’s family, where the marriage prospects of his three eldest girls are talk of the town.
In this clever adaptation of a classic story, the audience seems to fill the dual role of villager and spectator. Read More On Theatre As the entire cast mostly remains on or around the stage watching on - mirroring how involved neighbours can be in each others' lives - the audience also feels somehow involved in the drama. But the villagers are not just spectators, waiting their turn to perform.
While sitting on the edges they react to the scenes. At one point Tevye throws a potato out to another of the actors on the sideline, at another we hear a piece of gossip gloriously twisted out of shape as it's shared around the town/stage. And the entire cast is visible as Hodel is cast out by her father, standing as one force as she is backed away into the sidelines - physically showing the tragedy of being shunned by the society she always knew as home.
Most read in Showbiz Let's not forget the awe of the sun literally setting to the melancholic tune of Sunrise Sunset, and how a pigeon flies across the stage perfectly in time to Tevye belting out the last line to If I Were a Rich Man. He doesn't miss a beat in following the bird with his already extended arm, much to the amusement of the audience who erupt in muted giggles. Usually at this point some flaw might be taken up on.
Potentially a couple of the male actors’ voices aren't as strong as their female counterparts. But there’s nothing else. No other single issue or point of concern.
Ultimately this production is one not to be missed. It’s clever and funny while bringing the audience to tears. It’s completely brilliant.
Fiddler on The Roof ★★★★★ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London.
