|
Fiddler on the Roof by Christian Community Theater  Continuing a Tradition of great summer musicals, Christian Community Theater is putting on a Miracle of Miracles on the top of Mt. Helix in La Mesa, not too Far From the Home I Love, that I wouldn't miss even if I Were a Rich Man.
Yes, it is one of the most beloved musicals of all time -- Fiddler on the Roof -- about a poor Jewish dairyman named Tevye living in the small Russian village of Anatevka in 1905. He has five daughters, the three eldest of which are eligible for marriages traditionally arranged by the local Matchmaker Yente. But these daughters keep pushing Tevye, from Sunrise to Sunset, into choosing between denying the happiness of his daughters and breaking his long-held traditions. To cope with all the little surprises life throws his way, Tevye keeps speaking to God with the most amusing -- but honest -- prayers as he asks for guidance and, sometimes, perhaps a little explanation as to his many blessings in disguise. The classic story is filled with humor surrounding the luckless Tevye and drama as he tries to hold onto his traditions in the wake of changing social values and in the wake of a nervous Russia on the brink of revolution -- a Russia more than happy to scapegoat the Jewish populations for all their problems. The great story, and easily one of the most beautiful musical scores ever composed, makes this a perennial favorite at Christian Community Theater. Director Tom Schmidt's production is an excellent one, if perhaps a little rushed at times (probably so as not to disturb the residents of Mt. Helix too late in the evening -- a handful of whom tried to stop this CCT season with a lawsuit). Kirk Boughner, who was Jud Fry in last year's highly successful Oklahoma!, plays the Jewish father with the classic voice and mannerisms that made Topol such a sensation in the film version of the play. Kathy Schmidt gives a nice performance as his no-nonsense, sharp-tongued wife who shows a glimpse of her gentler side in Do You Love Me?, a song in which the two discover that, after meeting for the first time on their wedding day some twenty-five years ago, they have slowly come to love one another (despite all the bickering!). Their five daughters would make any parents proud with their divine voices: Stephanie Linney as the eldest daughter Tzeitel who wants to marry her friend from childhood, Motel the poor Tailor (Russell Holcomb), but is instead promised to the elderly butcher Lazar Wolf (Joel Gossett). Chelsea Basler as Hodel who falls in love with a university student from the big city (Perchik played by Kevin McClosky) who wants to "turn the world upside down" with a revolution that will take the money from the rich and give it to the poor. Chelsea's poignant singing of Far From the Home I Love, when she chooses to leave Anatevka to be with her imprisoned Perchik in Siberia, is certainly one of the highlights of the show. As is Carly Nykanen as Chava, the daughter who pushes Tevye to the breaking point in what leads to perhaps the most dramatic scene of the show, as she falls in love with Russian gentile Fyedka (Aaron Pomeroy), and in doing so risks losing the love, or even the acknowledgement, of all her family and friends. Some of the other great performances included Sharon Lawson as that meddling matchmaker Yente, her annoying voice, outrageous self-pity, and wobbly walk performed to perfection. Bob White as the beloved Rabbi and Daniel Boman as his melodramatic son were a hoot, as was the always-jovial innkeeper Mordcha (Bryant Callihan). Scenic and Lighting Designer Travis Russell's village set was quaintly and creatively laid out to make the most of the stage. His lighting was mostly great, especially in The Dream sequence in which Grandmother Tzeitel supposedly comes back from the dead to warn Tevye about the Butcher. The only minor aspects of the lighting that didn't work for me would be in regards to the two or three times, such as during the solemn Sabbath Prayer song, when the quiet and peaceful mood was broken by a couple of dramatically bright white spotlights that suddenly flicked on and seemed a little out of place, distracting my attention to the lights instead of focusing my attention on the actors. But definitely one of the most impressive aspects of this production was the talented Russian dancers and Jewish Bottle Dancers, which included the great tap dancing Tin Man in last year's The Wizard of Oz (Aaron Pomeroy). The Russians with their acrobatic kicks and jumps, and the Bottle Dancers with their mind-boggling balancing act with bottles perched on their hats as they strode across the stage in a squatting position, were incredible, as was Susan DeLeon's unrestrained choreography that used her cast's substantial dancing talent to the hilt, and helped make this presentation of Fiddler a great enhancement To Life. L'chai-im! Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~
Tevye, the Dairyman: Kirk Boughner Golde, his Wife: Kathy Schmidt Tzeitel: Stephanie Linney Hodel: Chelsea Basler Chava: Carly Nykanen Shprintze: Allison Faucher Bielke: Kendall Plunk Yente, the Matchmaker: Sharon Lawson Motel, the Tailor: Russell Holcomb Perchik, the Student: Kevin McCloskey Lazar Wolf, the Butcher: Joel Gossett Mordcha, the Innkeeper: Bryant Callihan Rabbi: Bob White Mendel, his Son: Daniel Boman Avrahm, the Bookseller: Steven Jensen Nachum, the Begger: Chuck Abel Grandma Tzeitel: Connie Grader-Reed Fruma-Sarah: Stephanie Hargrove Constable: Daniel Valko Fyedka: Aaron Pomeroy Sasha: Gregory Starkey Shandel, Motel's Mother: Linda McCue The Fiddler: Justin Martin Bottle Dancers: Daniel Boman Jason Godfrey Joey Huth Paul Kindschi Rodger Kindschi Aaron Pomeroy Russian Dancers: Deep Datta Matthew Lopez Justin Martin Aaron Pomeroy Gregory Starkey The Villagers: Chuck Abel Daniel Boman Bryant Callihan Bob Christiansen Mary Cunanan Deep Datta Mary Dennis Aimee Dotts Havilah Duff Jason Godfrey Connie Grader-Reed Becky Grecco Stephanie Hargrove Joey Huth Steven Jensen Chelsea Johnson Randy Kaufman Paul Kindschi Rodger Kindschi Elizabeth Koether Matthew Lopez Justin Martin Linda McCue Ken Miller Sue Miller Thomas Morrow Autumn Plunk Brittany Plunk Denise Plunk Heather Ponseggi Charles Roof Jessica Seymour Gregory Starkey John Steinmetz Will Threlkeld Bob White Chris Withall Ryan Withall Director: Tom Schmidt Musical Director: Mary Campbell Original Choroeography: Susan Jordan DeLeon Conductor: Harvey Tellinghuisen Sound Designers: Ron Withall and John Jacobs Costume Designers: Tamara Chow and Kimberly Moyer Lighting and Scenic Designer: Travis Russell Technical Director: Henry Loughman Stage Managers: Nick and Scott Handley |