Fiddler on the Roof Previews- Page 5

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 3:32pm

I never attend first preview performances, as there is quite enough to do just to get a show this large up on its feet, but out-of-town guests were only here for the first night, so we bought tickets and went. I will admit I am not amongst those theatergoers who think that FIDDLER is one of the great musical of the last half of the 20th century. Yes, way better than most, but so much of its enduring appeal is based on the original productidon, featuring Zero Mostel and the amazing Jerome Robbins musical staging. This production has neither. Burstein is a good actor, but from this first shot, he needs to bring more life, more suffering, more humor to the part. Jessica Hecht just seems miscast, having little or none of the sharp humor the role demands. The rest of the cast was just adequate or less. Bart Sher's direction was pretty flaccid at this first performance, but will surely improve in the future. What really needs to improve are the sets. Anyone who saw Boris Aronson's original designs were witness to an expressionistic brilliance that cannot be improved upon. These sets are flimsy drops and pieces that look like the end of a long bus-and-truck tour. Boy, does this show cry out for a turntable.  And perhaps there were actual visible stagehands for some reason that I can't imagine. And why was the Fiddler flown in at one point, a la Peter Pan, without his roof? And why did Burstein come out on stage at the outset and "change" into his Tevye outfit?

I know this will improve in weeks to come (a month of previews still to go), but why charge us the full freight for an unfinished, unrefined work? It's truly not that much different in tone from the original, just a whole lot duller.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 3:38pm

jayinchelsea said: "And perhaps there were actual visible stagehands for some reason that I can't imagine."

 

You can't sort out why there might be a technical hiccup at a first preview?!

[DancinMan]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 4:10pm

Can someone explain the large opening in the deck upstage?

https://instagram.com/p/-VY1ecyFGN/?tagged=fiddlerontheroof

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 4:32pm

DancinMan said: "Can someone explain the large opening in the deck upstage?

https://instagram.com/p/-VY1ecyFGN/?tagged=fiddlerontheroof

"

Maybe it's for the sound acoustics in the orchestra pit.

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 04:32 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 4:47pm

DancinMan said: "Can someone explain the large opening in the deck upstage?

https://instagram.com/p/-VY1ecyFGN/?tagged=fiddlerontheroof"

 

Looks like they might want the cast to be able to get right up to the lip of the stage, rather than use all of that space for the orchestra pit, but still wanted them under there with sight lines?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 4:52pm

Upstage is the back of the stage not the foot of the stage closest to the audience. That's downstage. The upstage opening is apparently used for entrances.

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:04pm

Wait, so the Fiddler flies? LOL what the hell kind of production is this? That sucks. And disappointed with the set from the pictures I have seen. And for the love of God PLEASE don't tell me Sher pulled a La Jolla Hunchback 'passion play' with this revival. Ugh.  Anyway, this production sounds like a Hotmess so I'll definitely be getting my ticket! 

 

 

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:04 PM

[FunnyGirl5]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:12pm

Hamilton22 said: "I'm so excited! Sher just direct every Musical (except original ones obviously)! 

 

But then we would not have Light in the Piazza one of the best musicals I ever saw.

"

 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:14pm

A flying Fiddler huh? SOLD! Oh and Hamilton22, haven't you heard of first previews with technical problems? Hence the reason why Danny is getting "dressed for the role" on stage. No? Well then. Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:14 PM

[FunnyGirl5]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:17pm

Shea is a really good director but sometimes he does really strange things.

 

"

 

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:17 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:20pm

How does this sound like a hot mess? We have two reports thus far, one very positive and one mixed. And I still don't know what exactly we're getting with this revival.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:22pm

Musical Master, the getting dressed on stage bit is part of the show. Sher opens the production in the train station with Danny in modern dress and then he changes into his Tevye costume.

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:22 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:25pm

Cats-

Have you seen the production? Is the concept that Burstein is "returning" to the village of his family?

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:26pm

"Hamilton22, haven't you heard of first previews with technical problems. Hence the reason why Danny is getting "dressed for the role" on stage.. ?"

 

Is that what he/she meant? I thought they meant that Danny comes on the stage and changes into his Tevye outfit as if he going into his character like Arden did for Quasimodo. I hope that's not what the reviewer meant. 

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:26 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:27pm

That's how it was described to me. I haven't seen it. It sounds more like a modern day prologue and then the show is in flashback.

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:29pm

"Musical Master, the getting dressed on stage bit is part of the show. Sher opens the production in the train station with Danny in modern dress and then he changes into his Tevye costume"

 

See I was right. Sher is pulling a Hunchback. Sorry but Tevye being in modern clothing doesn't make sense. The whole 'stepping into character" thing has been done so many times. Ugh. 

.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:31pm

Yes, Barlett Sher is specifically copying Hunchback. Mmhmm. ok.

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:31 PM

[HighFlyingAdored97]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:31pm

Is Hamilton22 just Philly Pinto? They write exactly the same...

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:32pm

Okay look, we all don't know so let's wait until we can see this with our own eyes.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:37pm

If sher copied Hunchback then sher also copied hundreds of other directors who did they exact same thing before Hunchback began.

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:38pm

Doing the show as a flashback really makes the finale of the show very moot, since it's clear Tevye came out of everything okay if he's in modern clothing. Since Fiddler has one of the saddest and most emotional finales I have ever seen, I really do wonder what was going through Sher's mind. Maybe it will look fine when I see it live but it sounds like Sher is trying too hard be "different" and "creative" and it's all just coming out very forced.. I mean really, a flying Fiddler? Talk about subtlety..

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:49pm

He's also talked about how he wants his production to be "earthy" and "grounded" and he's litterally having actors enter from the floor as if they're rising from the dirt. Subtle indeed. 

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:52pm

Having the fathers,mothers,sons and daughters all rise from out of the ground in "Tradition" does sound very cool though. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:52pm

I'll be there tonight and will report back.

After The King and I, a show I had never before appreciated, I am very much looking forward to this.

Updated On: 11/21/15 at 05:52 PM

[Hamilton22]

Posted: 11/21/15 at 5:53pm

My curiosity has peaked so I might just show up tonight also. Will report back.