Local “Fiddler” Production Pure Delight

A local cast and crew that includes many members of our Boulder Jewish community opened their production of “Fiddler on the Roof” tonight at the Dairy Arts Center, and the result is delightful. Rabbi Marc Soloway of Congregation Bonai Shalom stars as Tevye the Dairyman — a role that seemingly was tailored for him — and he does not disappoint.

Supporting Tevye is his wife, Golda, well-played by Ilana Steinberg, and his five daughters: Tzeitel – Heather Dratler, Hodel – Kaley Sikora, Chava – Maia Flat, Shprintze – Ashley Leanne Somers and Bielke – Avital Gan Levy. The older three daughters do a great job torturing Tevye with their romantic picks (Aaron Schwartz as Motel, Micha’el Miller as Perchik, and Solomon Abell as Fyedka), throwing off Tevye’s devotion to tradition that has sustained his family – and their village – for generations.

From the Program Notes to the show:

“Anatevka is a specific time and place in the pain and tragedy of Jewish History, and it is right now as persecution and exile continue. ‘We stay because Anatevka is our home!’ … Early on in the work on the production we observed that Tevye is a dairyman and Lazar Wolf is a butcher. Milk and meat are opposites in Jewish tradition, one gives life and one takes life, one man is rich and one poor. Anatevka is full community, joy and laughter, along with misery and tears. Now, as then, we need somehow to hold it all at the same time in life’s paradoxes; weighing it all with both hands until we break, or embrace it all.”

– Rabbi Marc Soloway, “Tevye”

“From the very beginning of this process, Rabbi Marc and I decided we would not rehearse or perform on Shabbat. … We wanted this to be a very Jewish production of Fiddler, a show which is so commonly presented to us by secular casts and companies. This time, we wanted to be the ones to present our culture to an audience, and be true to our culture in the process.”

– Sarah Nowak, Director and Producer

There are many wonderful moments in “Fiddler on the Roof,” and this production brought them all to life with heart and soul. Tevye’s dream number, featuring Rachel Shannon as Grandma Tzeitel and Janice Rubin as Fruma-Sarah was as show-stopping at the Dairy as it was on Broadway. Sunrise/Sunset did not fail to evoke memories and a lump in the throat for this writer either.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also call out the Orchestra for their fine performance providing the music for what is, after all, a musical theater production. Led by John Boggs as the Conductor, Music Director, MC and Keyboards, the six-piece ensemble did a wonderful job. And of course, hats off to David Waldman, the violinist who doubled as the actual “Fiddler on the Roof.”

One of the amazing things about this show is that it sold out all eight performances without any formal publicity at all. So if you have tickets, you are in for a real treat. If you didn’t manage to get them, hope for a revival soon!

Glowing Goose Productions, with partners Congregation Bonai Shalom, Congregation Nevei Kodesh and the Boulder JCC, presents Fiddler on the Roof | Jan. 15-25