By Doug Iden
Fiddler on the Roof comes “to life” at the Cincinnati Opera Summer Festival 2025 in a unique pairing of opera, musical theater, ballet, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Miracle of Miracles Plot and Characters
Based upon a series of short stories by Sholem Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof follows the life of Tevye the Dairyman who struggles with poverty, family conflicts, changing social mores and an increasingly autocratic Czarist Russian regime in the early Twentieth Century.
Tevye (Max Hopp) has a long suffering, sharp-tongued wife Golde (Victoria Livengood). And five daughters, including marriageable Tzeitel (Rachel Kobernick), Hodel (Rachel Blaustein) and Chava (Jennifer Zetlan).
As each of the older daughters become romantically involved, conflicts arise with challenges to traditional Jewish norms, questions of faith and political clashes with Czarist authority. In a small town where everybody knows everyone, supporting characters include the wise but realistic Rabbi (Barry Mulholland), Yente the Matchmaker (Janice Meyerson), and Lazar Wolf (Phil Fiorini) who wants to marry Tzeitel.
Themes and Conflicts
A myriad of themes speaks to the universality and endearing popularity of this show. Family is paramount and underpins the story. Another major underlying theme is the generational dispute between the elders who embrace and find comfort in the “old ways” while their children yearn for more “modern” thinking. Traditional roles of men and women are challenged. Simple, provincial life is uprooted by a religiously biased autocracy’s effort to “cleanse” their society. Tevye faces the anxiety between his love for his daughters and their need to pursue their own lives and beliefs. Tzeitel defies Tevye’s authority to choose her husband by marrying poor tailor Motel (Arnold Livingston Geis). Hodel falls in love with a revolutionary student Perchik (Simon Barrad) and follows him to Siberia. Chava commits the ultimate sin of marrying a Christian.
Wonder of Wonder(ful) Music
Fiddler boasts one of the best Broadway scores with music by Jerry Bock and amusing and insightful lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The opening number “Tradition” is a classic by introducing the major themes, principal characters and setting the overall tone. “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” features the three eldest daughters. It establishes the “I want” romantic element for each but also ends with the realism that, because of tradition, they “could be stuck.” Tevye speaks to his own dreams in the surprisingly introspective take on “If I Were a Rich Man” and the cast regales the wedding prospect of Wolf and Tzeitel in the rollicking “To Life.” Motel extols his joy in “Miracle of Miracles” and Perchik and Hodel celebrate their love with “Now I Have Everything.” A musical highlight is always the wedding song “Sunrise, Sunset” sung by the entire cast. The show ends with the haunting song of displacement “Anatevka.”
Full of Humor
Often overlooked in Fiddler is the humor which permeates the show. Coming primarily from Tevye’s homespun philosophy and unique view of life–plus his continual verbal sparring with Golde. An example of a Tevye-ism is a self-argument he has while justifying each of his daughters’ potential marriages. He debates “on the one hand (why) and the other hand (why not). “Why” always wins out. Two additional songs typify the humor. In “Tevye’s Monologue” he tries to convince Golde about Tzeitel’s marriage by “dreaming” about Grandma Tzeitel (Wendy Hill) endorsing the tailor. After an arranged marriage, Tevye asks Golde “Do You Love Me?” on bended knee. They both agree, “after 25 years, I guess I do.”
Spectacular Design and Direction
Stage Director Crystal Manich has meshed theatrical, operatic, balletic, and musical elements into a superb experience. Enthusiastic Conductor Levi Hammer leads a flawless CSO orchestra. Solo violinist Charles Morey is on stage playing the mysterious and ubiquitous “Fiddler” of the title. (There actually was a Fiddler playing on the Music Hall roof as we entered. Gary Kidney, Music Hall’s technical director braved the height. Great marketing, team!)
The set by Andrew Boyce is an interesting combination of rustic architecture and modern elements. The back “wall” is closed at times and opens up for outdoor views. An effective scene is the “Sabbath Prayer.” It starts with Tevye’s family in the foreground but then opens to five additional tables with candles (Lighting by Thomas Hase) set in the background. The scene emphases both the individual and community families. Costume Designer Chad Phillips dresses most of the cast in traditional Russian Jewish peasant garb. Choreographer Michael Pappalardo has blended conventional dances with some Cincinnati Ballet dancers and some youngsters. The highlight is the “Bottle Dance” in which men balance bottles on their heads.
A Must See
I have seen Fiddler many times but never done as part of an opera season. Based upon bios and observation, the cast seemed to be a mixture of musical theater and operatic performers. This is clear in the duet “Do You Love Me” where Hopp (Tevye) is a Broadway singer while Livengood (Golde) is an operatic mezzo-soprano. Hopp plays Tevye more introspectively and philosophically with less bombast which enhances the role. Cincinnati Opera’s Fiddler on the Roof is a VERY good production, with extraordinary singing, acting, and dancing by the entire cast.
Get Tickets
So, grab your fiddle and walk your milk cart down to Anatevka. Fiddler on the Roof continues at Cincinnati Opera July 26 at 7:30 pm and July 27 at 3:00 p.m. at Music Hall’s Springer Auditorium. Find tickets HERE.
