Fiddler on the Roof Previews — Page 13

Saw this last night and could hardly stay awake! 

For so much happening on stage, the energy was so so so low. Part of that may have been sound issues: the orchestra registered very quietly (I was sitting in about the 6th row) and there may have been mic issues because the vocals on the actors was dim too. 

Danny Burstein is a pleasure to watch but he basically carried the entire show, which was weirdly exhausting for me to watch. His performance of "If I Were a Rich Man" was misguided. He's permitted (or asked to) indulge the "daydreamy" nature of the song far too severely and he winds up kind of mumbling throughout the entire thing and his cutesy dancing during it overtakes the content of the song. Lots of turning his back to the audience while he's singing and with the quiet vocals and mumbling affect, it just didn't work.

There was also zero chemistry among the performers. They all felt like they were doing their own thing at all times. The casting is just off. "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" for example was, to my mind, far glummer than it should have been and the actresses seemed so far from one another when they sang this song. Perhaps that's how they were directed to behave, but it seemed a strange choice. I think there's a valid point to be made that the matchmaking is a depressing notion, and obviously much of the plot rests on tradition and its tensions/rebellions, but still, the number set a troubling tone. It kind of announced there'd be little joy in the show and that proved true.

There's a big opening visual ala "King and I" that was really breathtaking but apart from that, the staging was unimpressive. Whoever commented on here that the men in black t-shirts moving parts around the stage was jarring and amateurish, I'm 100% with you. Every time it happened - some middle-aged dude with a head set literally shoving a tree on wheels to the corner of the stage - I became more and more infuriated. I've never seen that before in a large scale Broadway production. Cast members moving things about is one thing, but this was straight up crew guys trying, and failing, to sneak around stage and it didn't work. There's no reason those trees and doors couldn't have been on tracks and moved themselves to and fro. VERY weird. 

Updated On: 11/25/15 at 08:26 AM

You really seem to like cherry-picking the opinions that line up with your worst assumptions, don't you?

Hamilton22 said: "I wouldn't think so. Many have laid out the problems they have with the show and I accept that this won't be on the level of Sher's South Paific and King and I. And that's okay."

No offense, Hamilton22, but it really does seem like it to me. You quote and comment on all of the negative reactions in this thread, but you ignore almost if not all of the very positive-to-rave reviews given by veteran BWW posters including PalJoey, Whizzer, and WiCkEDrOcKS.

And I thought you said you were seeing it last night? Did you attend? What are your thoughts?

Fair enough, I do hope you enjoy it when you see it on Saturday. Please let us know what you think!

Also, Whizzer did post limited feedback because he missed the first 20 minutes of the performance and will be returning soon to see it in its entirety.  But he did say:

I don't feel right commenting on a production that I didn't see in its entirety, but I do plan on going back tomorrow night and catching the full show this time. I will briefly say that what I saw I adored and will share more detailed thoughts (hopefully) tomorrow. 

Whizzer will see the show in it's entirety tonight. So excited.  

Yep. I live in the south, so it's very difficult to visit NYC often.

Saw it last night, and I thought the entire production was stunning and heart-wrenching.

The "refreshed" choreography is a revelation.  There is a new "movement" language throughout the entire production that was quite special.  The iconic Jerome Robbins moments are still there, don't worry.  

The first 5 minutes alone drew gasps from the audience - it was breathtaking.

It was only the 4th preview, so some of the small tech snafus should be fixed. Yes, they need to deal with those stagehands lazily strolling across the stage with headsets on.  Kinda took me out of the village...I look forward to seeing it once it's frozen. 

Overall though - I've seen many productions of this show, and this one was the most deeply moving. Much of that is due to Danny Burstein's beautiful performance.

It was magic and I highly recommend it.

I'm glad you liked it holdyourbatboy. Do you think the Chava Ballet was done justice in this revival?

Updated On: 11/25/15 at 10:55 AM

That's a relief to hear that Bartlett Sher and Hofesh Schecter have left the Chava Ballet as it was originally intended and let the beauty and sadness of that sequence speak for itself.

There were no individual bows. The cast came out as a whole, took a bow together, and that was that. It was like WTF was that. They shortchanged a lot of talented people by not giving them their due. Really loved the show but that left me cold.

Excuse me, DID SOMEBODY SAY "WEAK ACCENT FROM DANNY?"

Boy, nothing will kill a show around here faster than that.  AND FROM THE LEAD!

I was told that about his accent. It's that persons opinion. I will see it next month and decide what I think.  Over all she raved about Motel the tailor performance, as well as the daughters.

Far from any knowledge of accents. Minsk or whatever. It would be hard to believe it was great.

maybe Whizzer is so ferklempt from production, he is overwhelmed

All of you are counting on his thoughts