 It’s definitely one of the most beloved musicals ever
written. The story of a classic everyman, Jewish milkman Tevye living in a
small turn-of-the-century Russian village where tensions between the Russians
and the Jewish community have been few. But times are changing, revolution is
in the air, and the traditions that have given Tevye and his neighbors
stability in an unstable world are beginning to teeter. But it’s not just the
outside political world driving such changes. Most of them come by way of
Tevye’s FIVE daughters, three of whom are of marrying age, each of them
progressively testing Tevye’s beliefs and values with their choices.
While Chaim Topol, the Tevye in the masterful film version
of the musical, is in the midst of his farewell touring production, Edward R.
Murrow High School in Brooklyn also took on this show for their spring musical,
directed by Rory Schwartz who has a great sense for the show. Nicholas
Guastella is Tevye, and he both looks the part and captures the part
exceptionally well as he finds comfort in Tradition, prays to his friend
up above for advice (and to complain a little), asks if his ornery wife Golde
loves him (played by a cross but also vulnerable Samantha Cohen), and
gets pushed to the edge time and again by his headstrong daughters.
 The three eldest daughters are introduced to us with the
famous Matchmaker number well done by the trio. Valerie Blatt is
the eldest, Tzeitel, who dares make her own match with the poor tailor Motel, Brandon
Zelman, who is endearingly meek and surprisingly humorous as the awkward
Motel who screams like a girl when surprised, but musters enough courage to ask
for his love’s hand, resulting in the spirited Miracle of Miracles. But
what about Tzeitel’s previously arranged marriage with the rich butcher (the
talented Matthew Ryan Hunter)? And how is unromantic, ultra-pragmatic
Golde going to take the news? Tevye’s answer is one of the best scenes of this
production that begins when Tevye is finally able to wake Golde (who sleeps
like a rock), and includes great cameos from Daniella Malave as an
insanely pearl-loving ghost and Marissa Shadburn as Grandma Tzeitel who
isn’t afraid to speak her mind even after death.
Molly Eden Goldberg and Harrison Brian Fuchs
star as the second couple, intelligent daughter Hodel and idealistic university
student Perchik. Harrison has a knack for the character who has a much easier
time talking about politics than  socio-economic unions with women (a.k.a.
marriage proposals), and Molly is a charming and sensitive Hodel with a
gorgeous singing voice. Her touching, haunting Far From the Home I Love
sung at the railroad stop to her anguished father and her far-off, imprisoned
fiancé is as beautiful and powerful as it gets.
The other powerful moment comes with daughter Chava (Marissa
Becker) who falls in love with the Russian gentile Fyedka (David Scott
Kirshner). Her parents’ pain, and Tevye’s rejection of a horrified Chava,
is dramatically portrayed.
A few other highlights include Alexandra Kaye as
a likeably obnoxious Yente the Matchmaker, Luke Fontana as a humorous
rabbi who gets nervous when put on the spot, bottle dancers who, under
pressure, don’t let their bottles drop from their hats, nice ensemble numbers
in To Life, Tevye’s Dream, and Anatevka, and a good job by
the school’s orchestra led by first violinist Sara Sunshine as “the
fiddler.”
Performs May 6-9,
2009
Rob Hopper
Executive Director
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Tevye: Nicholas Guastella
Golde: Samantha Cohen
Tzeitel: Valerie Blatt
Hodel: Molly Eden Goldberg
Chava: Marissa Becker
Shprenitze: Samantha Gillette
Bielka: Heather O'Donavan
Yente: Alexandra Kaye
Motel: Brandon Zelman
Perchik: Harrison Brian Fuchs
Lazar Wolf: Matthew Ryan Hunter
Mordcha: Michael Rosen-Pipitone
Rabbi: Luke Fontana
Mendel: Zachary Nathan Stevens
Avram: Saveliy Baranov
Nachum: Frank Napoleoni
Yussel: Avery Whitted
Grandma Tzeitel: Marissa Shadburn
Fruma-Sarah: Daniella Malave
Constable: Jesse Eric Manning
Priest: John Anantua
Fyedka: David Scott Kirshner
Sasha: Jon Siedman
Shaindel: Lauren Dunn
The Fiddler: Erech Holder-Hetmeyer
Bottle Dancers:
Alan Shugal
Luis Angel Grande
Matthew Eng
Kyle Jack
Kris Sanchez
John Anantua
Steven Burgos
Russians:
Liam Sullivan
Brian Campbell
Eugene Mikhelson
Jon Siedman
Villagers:
Robert Pomerants
Michael Torres
Ian Benjamin
Robin Rivera
Eric Rothstein
Jesse Cordasco
Michael Juris
Aldora Neal
Ellie Posner
Lisa Lyev
Heather Rose Wiener
Catherine Splendore
Lynn Schiffman
Heather Kramer
Camera Walrond
Sarah Dawson
Andrea Levinsky
Sohee Cho
Olga Smirichinskaya
Melissa Schwimmer
Saieda Byrd
Anna Furmanskaya
Dareen Generoso
Director: Rory Schwartz
Technical Supervisor/Scenic Design: Paul Eisenberg
Costume Supervisor/Scenic Art: Allison Galker
Lighting Design: Keith Truax
Sound Designers: Marianne Vaskova and Mei Wu
Musical Director: Don Christensen
Choreographer: Roberta Raymond
Vocal Director: Alan Shapiro
Stage Manager: Allegra Scheinblum
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