Fiddler on the Roof Reviews

K Cunningham from Springfield, Missouri

SLOW

seemed really slow, like all the pauses were longer than they needed to be and the songs slower than they needed to be. It just seemed like they were unnecessarily stretching it out. The singing and dancing numbers were very good. Set design was also very good

Tiwania Barnes from Springfield, Missouri

OVERALL OKAY.

Hammond Hall can do better than this. With the exception of the Seidel character, I could not hear the players well unless they were looking directly into the audience. The Yenta was especially hard to hear. The Mosul player lacked the energy required for some scenes and I couldn’t hear the opening dialog at all. Dancers performed well. Sets were sparse and relied upon the one house (tent) too much. It was great but not enough. The last scene was awkward. Finally, I’m a a huge advocate for 1A , however, I PAID TO BE ENTERTAINED. We wanted to enjoy the play. I did not pay for, expect or appreciate the political views of marginal performers. I’m sorry to see this.

Jerry K from San Francisco , California

FIDDLER, SAN FRANCISCO

Cast was excellent and delivered an outstanding performance. That being said I was totally unimpressed with what I can only describe as a “Readers Digest” version of this all time great show. If you went not knowing the storyline you left the same way! If “reimagining” means a lack of scenery and abbreviation of the story then the stage has lost its glory. Cutting costs is understandable but ticket prices haven’t been cut. As for the theater itself, it’s shameful to see how dirty the venue has become. The neighborhood is overrun with homeless and deranged people. Excrement, used needles , and filth everywhere. It’s not safe to walk those streets. For a city that derives its income primarily from tourism, it’s no wonder that visitors are staying away.

Dave The Curmudgeon Mausner from Chicago, Illinois

FIDDLER TAKES A HIKE

Note: I attended the 1964 first run in NYC. This is a comparative reflection. The cast of that run can be reviewed on Wikipedia. The production at Chicago's Cadillac Theater is technologically excellent. The costumes and set designs are simple, ingenious, and true to the original designer's intent: Anatevka was a bland and muddy outpost. The dance numbers are vigorous. The blocking, acting, and singing, while competent by modern standards, are restrained by an overall direction of sadness, isolation, and helplessness. The original played as a robust comedy, and one reason may be that the 1964 cast stars had actual Vaudeville experience. This production issues a disconcerting pessimism: lovers sing while standing at opposite sides of the stage like a 7-10 bowling split; Tevye and Golde's duet fails to read as a call and response; the Rabbi is played straight and not as an obvious comedy figure. Even the fiddler is missing his roof. You have no idea what you're missing.

Ann F. from Chicago, Illinois

VERY FLAT.

The opening "Tradition" was very strong and I was so excited for an amazing show bc I love this play!! Only to be let down by weak singing by all the male leads. Maybe it was their sound system bc all were hard to hear and sounded strained. The women were strong and Sasha was great! Yente's timing was consistently off. I am not sure why it was necessary to cast 2 obvious omen as men in the chorus. You can definitely tell they are women and it's distracting. I hate to say this, but I have seen amateur community theater productions that were better. I bought 6 tickets as xmas gifts for my family... and I wish I would have chosen Avenue Q instead.

Julie W from Costa Mesa, California

BLAND AND UNDERWHELMING

I organized a group of friends and family to see this personal sentimental favorite. To those who have no comparisons to draw upon, I can understand their delight. My impressions, however, are sadly underwhelmed. Who even cast these performers? The texture, comedic timing, power, range and timbre of the vocals was chronically distracting. Yente practically read her lines. Tevye was too young for the role. Good marks for the staging and special effects and loved the bottle dance. I value this story as my grandparents were exiled from a village much like Anetevka, I can assure you that there was definitely room to portray the emotional impact of that eviction and violence much, much better. I am glad this story is still being told and now being introduced to a new audience, but the potency leaves much to be desired.

M. Weber from Costa Mesa, California

UNEVEN

With a bang-up opening act, I expected much more from what turned out to be, dare I say, an insipid play. The orchestra played well, but the singing was not the best, especially the middle daughter. I enjoyed Teyve's character, but I had to guess at some of his lines, his vocal projection was not there. Yenta was so disappointing! Sounded like she was reading her lines and couldn't decide on which accent to use. Her timing was nonexistent. I found the lighting very muddy, the humor missing or muted, and the singing so-so. Just seemed like lots of missed opportunities to put on a good show.

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