Harvery Fierstein as Tevye?- Page 2

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 3:18pm

Are schools no longer teaching basic research skills?

I don't know if I want the answer to that...

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 3:23pm

http://gethelp.library.upenn.edu/faculty/researchassignments.html

Ok, now back to Harvey!

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 3:26pm

Are schools no longer teaching basic research skills?

I work in a university library, and it wouldn't appear that they do. The vast majority of the student body that I have come in contact with don't seem to know what to do beyond a cursory Google search.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 3:30pm

This comment from one of Harvey's reviews is funny whether you liked Him or not:

"Perhaps Harvey associates Tevye with King Lear because this portrayal is such a tragedy."

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 3:44pm

What are you talking about? Anyway, this role really doesn't call for a romantic leading man type voice like South Pacific.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:06pm

This thread is both homophobic AND anti-Semitic.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:07pm

I'd just like to point out that I did, in fact, know that Fierstien replaced Molina in the Broadway revival of Fiddler, and would like anybody to highlight the point where I suggested otherwise.

I joined this forum as a place to discuss my opinion of theatre and related topics with other like-minded people whether they agree with me or not - this is the essence of debate.

When people disasgree and have different opinions, I think this is also a fantastic thing because it gives us all a chance to become more educated.

I began this thread with my opinion. This is my INFORMED opinion, and I maintain this. I was interested in whether anyone agreed with me and whether anyone disagreed with me.

I am interested in hearing both sides of the argument, but what I am not interested in is hearing people being rude to one another - this has no place in an area of debate, in my opinion.

I respect the opinion of every single person on this board and respectfully request that in return.

Thank-you.

P.S 'Mildred Plotka', I would be glad to have a great in-depth discussion with you anytime, particularly on musical theatre PRE-WICKED and RENT. Especially things pre-1975 (I like to think I am more applied here) - Many thanks.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:09pm

Molina REPLACED Fierstein!!!!!!!
You still don't know what you're talking about.

AND your original post clearly indicates you had NO CLUE Fierstein even played the part before this new tour because you were questioning his casting.

Nice try to cover it up but it's all there for everyone to read.


Updated On: 5/23/10 at 04:09 PM

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:17pm

OK, so I am positive Alfred Molina was in the opening night cast on Jan 23rd 2004, a confirmation search on several websites confirms this.

And I did know that Fierstein was Molina's replacement in 2005. Fiddler is one of my favourite shows (having starred in it myself) and therefore, I did a great deal of research for my part. I found that I personally didn't like Fierstein in the part of Tevye when conducting my research, preferring Alfred Molina, and, of course, the great Chaim Topol. I also found that MANY people I knew in theatre (particularly in the UK) didn't rate Fierstein's performance on many levels. Therefore, my surprise was at the fact that he has been cast again. Just because I didn't like him so much.

This was my informed opinion, and I was glad I recieved so many others, including many who agree with me!

Again, many thanks.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:17pm

"...and would like anybody to highlight the point where I suggested otherwise."

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:23pm

Clap, did you actually see Mr. Fierstein live in the part? I would assume that part of your research would have to include seeing him live to really form an opinion.

Also, people may be slamming you because your original post was not as, articulate, as your past few responses. It did come off as if you had no clue he was doing the tour or did the show on Broadway.

Updated On: 5/23/10 at 04:23 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:25pm

Yes my bad. My dyslexia kicked in and I misread your post. Fierstein did replace Molina and I'm not going to erase my original response because I make mistakes as well but at least when I start a thread I'm prepared to have some knowledge of what I am talking about and back it up.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:33pm

Marquise, I respect and value your opinion.

On a wider note, I would like to apologise for the way I structured my original post, it would seem it has led to great confusion. I hope in my last couple of posts I have cleared up that my opinion was and is an informed one, I just assume it didn't seem that way from the way I worded it. Again, I sincerely apologise.

Uncaceg - No, I didn't see Fierstein live, I unfortunately live in Wales, UK, so missed him. However, I so hope I can see a performance of his in the future, as I do admire him as a performer, writer and actor. In addition to this, I did see the most recent UK tour of Fiddler when I was researching my part, starring Joe McGann.

PalJoey? I really hope you're joking - a gay person being homophobic...I can't say it's something I strive towards.

Again, I apologise if anybody found my original post misleading.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:46pm

" No, I didn't see Fierstein live,"

Then you aren't entitled to "your opinion" in this case.

You haven't seen him in the role. How can you have an opinion without seeing him? What you are doing is making a blind judgment based on your preconceived notions of a performer.

And if you truly wanted to have a discussion you would have started the thread differently. You started this thread to stir up **** and now that nobody is agreeing with you, you're backpedaling.

Here's how a thread wanting opinions would start:

Has anyone seen him in the role? What do you think.

Or even if you're skeptical of him being good, it could have been more gently put.

How is Harvey in the role? I just can't see him as Tevye. What do you all think?

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 4:57pm

Mildred Plotka: If you knew me, you would know that I am a tolerant person by nature and one who respects other people and their opinions. However, my toleration begins to wain when somebody tells me I am not entitled to my opinion. I could not strongly disagree anymore.

Also, if you knew me you would know that I have strong opinions about many things, in particular theatre, and, in the most, I make a point of making them well-informed at least.

What I also make a point of is adressing somebody via the internet how I would adress them and converse with them in real life. This thread is a perfect example. I am expressing my opinion how I would had I been talking to at the time. And I can't say that many people here on BroadwayWorld woud do it that differently. I have seen far worse.

I formed my opinion after viewing a wide range of all things Fiddler, the closest I could come to seeing it (and Fierstein) onstage. That is my informed opinion.

If you disagree that that is informed, that is fair enough. But how does one measure informed? We would all probably have different ways of measuring it, but one thing is important - that we respect people's views and opinions whatever we think of it. That is all I ask.

And after seeing how you obviously speak to people, my opinion is that you're in no position to lecture anybody on how they should converse.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:04pm

Oh, Jesus Christ.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:12pm

I am assuming that the things you "viewed" may have been "clips" of Harvey in the show. Now clips are used for advertisement and can help us decide if we want to see a show or not. However, they aren't always a god source for coming to a conclusion on an entire performance.

I will admit that I had my reservations before I walked into the theater this past Tuesday evening. I had seen clips also. But as a whole, he gives a wonderful performance. So you may be "informed" as to whether you may want to or may not want to see him in the role from the clips (Unless you somehow have seen the entire performance online) but it isn't fair to judge the entire performance wothout actually seeing it. I think that is what everyone is getting at here.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:15pm

Ok, so I have seen the whole performance, sorry if there was some kind of misunderstanding there.

Maybe I would change my mind if I saw Harvey in the role? It will happen before and will happen again (Gareth Gates in Les Mis, anyone?)

Anyway, back to Harvey?

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:18pm

Ok, you have seen the whole performance. With Harvey? Read your last post. It is confusing.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:20pm

I apologise for that. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to clear up. Other than that, I think i've said all I need and want to say.

Goodnight :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:25pm

It is just that you aren't really clear. Just say "Yes, I have seen Harvey's entire performance." or "No, I have not seen Harvey's entire performance". That simple.

Not being nasty, but you spelled his name wrong in the thread title. I am certain it was just a typo as those letters are close on the keyboard. I do it all the time.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:29pm

To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, why can't the English teach their children how to think?

[strummergirl]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 5:35pm

I saw the Broadway production when he was there with Rosie O'Donnell (a whole other story) but I really enjoyed him. I agree with PalJoey that his acting was top notch. Yes at certain points it was a bit hard to understand him and his singing is divisive, but I really liked him. On the other hand my ex-roommate saw the same production, loves the musical to death but hated him but I found her reasons to be a little thick (basically for the fact nobody who played Edna Turnblad should play Tevye) to put it nicely. But for myself, if I had to opportunity to see him in Fiddler again, I would do it.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 6:21pm

I'll be another to jump in and praise Harvey's performance. I saw him on Broadway a few years ago with Andrea Martin as Golde and he couldn't have been more wonderful. I also saw Alfred Molina and I far preferred Harvey's interpretation of the role. His singing didn't bother me in the least...in fact I found his "Chavaleh" to be rather beautiful in a weird sort of way.

[karen24]

Posted: 5/23/10 at 7:33pm

I saw Harvey on Broadway with Andrea Martin as well. I will say that when he spoke his first lines, there was a bit of laughter in the audience, just because he does have that distinctive voice and it seemed a bit incongruous in the setting. But his acting quickly erased that first impression and I thought he was very good. As others have said, the role doesn't require someone who can sing opera, and he did fine with the musical parts. I thought he and Andrea Martin were great together, too.
Now I am wondering if I also saw Lea Michele in that cast...must go dig up my Playbill!