Fiddler on the Roof

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 1:41pm

Hey all, I don't know if this was ever discussed (the search feature brings up TOO MANY posts to check all of them):

What does everyone think of Alfred Molina as Tevye?

I though he lacked the Yiddishkeit to do the role. What about everyone else?

[cturtle]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 4:54pm

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY does a wonderful spoof on how "british" and not "yiddish" the show is

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 4:59pm

He was OK. I actually cant wait for Harvey as Tevye believe it or not! Alfreds performance was so hyped up and everyone said how amazing he would be and how he would steal the Tony from Hugh but when it opened, he didnt get such good reviews. He was just OK. He was a great actor but I couldnt stand his singing. He was REALLY un-Jewish if that makes sense.

The show itself was iffy to. Not the best but definitley not the worst.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 5:01pm

I agree

AND FINALLY, a non-Wicked thread

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 5:02pm

Is Andrea Martin definite for Golde?

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 5:07pm

Already I miss Randy

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 6:01pm

Guys. David Leveaux's approach to this revival was to "de-Jew" it a little bit. This was known, and he spoke of this before the show opened, so most people who keep up with theatre knew what they were expecting. Molina is no more british and less jewish than the entire production - and ultimately, the question was what do we think of him in the show. Not the direction. It was a directorial choice to not use accents - which I think works wonderfully. His performance, in my opinion, is fantastic. He finds humour in the role that I have no seen before and stayed away from stereotypes, and that's why I thought he was fantastic. He got my vote over Hugh Jackman.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 6:05pm

I thought he was good and all.

It wasmore that Randy Graff, Nancy Opel, and some of the Ensemble then actedd TOO Jewish - leaving Molina and others in the gentile dust!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 6:06pm

No one on the show acts jewish. Besides the costumes, no one even looks jewish. They purposely cast non-traditionally looking jewish people in to be in the show.

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 7:45pm

Which is ridiculous. If you're telling the story of Jews, why deliberately make it unJewish? How about Oklahoma done with yuppies from New York or A Raisin in the Sun with Asians?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 12:21am

That's what I said about Tamyra Gray being in BOMBAY DREAMS, and people called me racist.

However, it's not that they completely took the Jewishness out of it - it was a stylistic choice, and one that I think worked amazingly well. Jewish is a religion, not an ethnicity. You can still be Jewish and not look Jewish.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 12:57am

W/E - It looked weird b/c some ppl jewed it and other didn't...

[midtowngym]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 12:58am

My parents (two old Jews from Queens) saw today's Fiddler matinee. Both also saw Zero Mostel. My mother cried during the show and both agreed that Molina was terrific.

[UptownGirl]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:25pm

Personally, I think that Fiddler is a strong enough show that whether it is "de-Jewed" or not, it's still great. I saw it in February, while it was still in previews, and I loved it. So... yay Fiddler lol.

Oh yeah, and I'm SO excited for Harvey Fierstein to play Tevye! Is it confirmed yet that Andrea Martin will play Golde? 'Cuz that would be awesome.

[MagicRoy]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:29pm

I personally really like the de-Jewed version. I am Jewish, and I am a huge lover of Jewish humor. I love Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, etc.

HOWEVER... I find that after for 40 years Fiddler was done very Jewish, it needed to be de-Jewed for a modern audience. It broadens the group of people that can relate to it. There is something VERY wrong if a group of Italian people walks out of that show saying "wow that's how those Jews are." There was very broad appeal in the original, but even broader understanding and relating now. Everyone can relate to the new one better than they could the older interpretation. Meanwhile, although I wasn't crazy about him as Max Bialystock, I'd like to see Brad Oscar as Tevye.

[AndyHardy]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 12:26am

I saw tonight's performance -- and should state upfront that I really enjoyed it. Still powerful and some lovely, lovely moments. As for the "de-Jew-ing" (ha! there's a word!)there were some times when I had remember they were Jews -- particularly in the confrontation scene between Tevye and Chava when she is asking to marry the Russian. They were a bit "proper" and too eloquent. But I love when a revival can be thoughtfully re-interpreted. Alfred Molina was different, but enjoyable and held the show on his shoulders.

Updated On: 12/10/04 at 12:26 AM

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:01am

Fiddler in the Forest, ahem, sorry, I mean Fiddler on the Deck was alright, though the fiddler looked like a bad version of Richard Petty and the performance of the Motel character stuck out like a sore thumb. I thought he was trying INCREDIBLY too hard to steal the show from everyone. As for Molina...when I saw it he was out sick. Bummer. He's an incredible actor and a wonderful teacher.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:41am

I can't wait for Harvey Fierstien to take over the role (no offense to Alfred Molina) but I think Harvey will be perfect in the role.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 9:43am

Well this conversation is certainly making me feel better about my production.

And I am with redhot - I'll be running to see Harvey and Andrea.

[Nomad613]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 6:55am

"De-Jew" Fiddler on the Roof??? How do you "De-Jew" a show that is ABOUT Russian JEWS????!!

[sanda]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 4:52pm

I love him. OK, I admit this is the first time I watch Fiddler on stage, besides this I only watched the movie.

But I still love him. I don't care about the accent cause I am neither Jewish nor British. I think his dialoge "If I bend that far, I wll break"is the most heartbroken sentence I ever heard. It moves tears and I appreciate for that very much.

Thank you, Alfred, for making me cry!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 4:58pm

Anyone know the date Harvey enters?

[timote316]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 5:39pm

I want to say Jan 10th, but I'm not 100% sure. I do know its sometime next week or the week after

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 12/29/04 at 7:07pm

jan 4

[Doc]

Posted: 1/13/05 at 12:44pm

Well, I saw Harvey as Tevye, and actually it was a huge dissapointment. What an incredible actor, but the role is not right for him. First the humor is off, the pathos of the story is damaged by it, it should be comic relief, not front and center. Secondly, song Chavaleh was a disaster. A Broadway musical needs good if not perfect singers.

I was spoiled, I saw Alfred Molina twice in the role and his energy was wonderful in the role. Once I saw Mark Lotito do the role and I would rather see him in the role than Harvey. There will not be another Zero Mostel, so it is far better to be different.

Updated On: 1/13/05 at 12:44 PM