Until Fiddler, musicals spoke only to the immediate generation. Fiddler showed how a musical could speak to all generations and cultures. ... In much the same way that The Diary of Anne Frank is not just a Jewish story, neither is Fiddler on the Roof. Fiddlers strong themes of tradition, repression, prejudice and diaspora continue to evoke common ground for audiences — wherever they are. The well-crafted book and memorable songs dont hurt, of course, but they are augmented by a plot that has something for everyone, whether its the importance of family, friction between generations or the difficult choices that accompany emigration and assimilation. ... Will Fiddler on the Roof still move audiences in 50 more years? Actor Harvey Fierstein thinks so. Ive played the show in San Francisco, Fort Worth, Atlanta and Toronto. Ive played it all over, and the reaction is the same. When I was on Broadway, Id look out into the house and there would be Hasidic Jews and nuns or maybe a high school cheerleader team in town for a competition, and they all sat with rapt attention watching it. They all got it. The day the boys finished writing it and put it up on the stage, it was part of our culture.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:51:32 +0000
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