Harvey Fierstein Replacing Topol in Fiddler Tour?- Page 2

[jmnpublications]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:15pm

As a Jewish friend of mine said to me in an email, "For members of the tribe who have the songs running through our veins, it was like old home week...a chance to hear them again with Topol as the lead."

Topol is as much identified with Tevye as Yul Brynner was with the King. Topol played the role in London in 1967 before doing the movie in 1971. He has gone on to perform it more than 2500 times through the years all around the world. He is THE reason people in mainstream America are buying tickets to this tour.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:25pm

It looks like the FIDDLER tour is playing San Francisco in January. Now, that would be one market that I bet Harvey could sell ticket in. If he were to join the production to give Topol a break for a couple of months- that's their chance...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:32pm

I would think that for anyone over 35 or 40 Topol would be a huge draw. In general, I find an awful lot of younger theatre people find Fiddler to be rather droll.

[misto625]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:38pm

So is there any more news or information about whether Harvey Fierstein will be joining the tour?

[jmnpublications]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:41pm

And here it is!

Topol just announced he's leaving with a shoulder injury.
Harvey new Tevye

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 3:50pm

Movies are never "ancient history" because they continue to have a life on TV, and on home video. And Fiddler was a big hit on movie screens in 1971/72. It was also reissued (in a shortened form) in 1979 and has been in constant release on tape and later disc. For many people Topol IS "the Fiddler on the Roof."

I just got the press release from Mirvish here in Toronto announcing Fierstein as the replacement. I am sure he can act it beautifully...but I shudder to think how those glorious songs will sound with his road-gravel voice.

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 4:07pm

I thought his singing was surprisingly good.

Posted: 11/11/09 at 4:12pm

I'd buy a ticket to see Harvey as Topol in a second. I do wonder how he'll play in some of the small burgs, but in the cities I think he'd be a draw- does anyone have any other thoughts of who could have stepped in and done this instead?

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 4:28pm

When I saw it on Broadway several tourists thought he had strained his voice or was sick.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 5:00pm

I would love to sit on that Doctor's appointment when Harvey has his throat scoped! I wonder what his vocal cords look like...

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 5:06pm

[bway1261]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 5:09pm

So, is this only temporary? The tour is going to be near me in June and I would love to see him.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 5:54pm

frontrowcentre, I saw Harvey as Tevye on Broadway and while I do normally agree that his voice is kind of grating, I actually thought he sounded wonderful singing this music. I'm not sure exactly what it was but his "Chavaleh" was the sweetest thing I have ever heard and his voice didn't really bother me. I also saw Andrea Martin as Golde who was fantastic...I had seen the production earlier with Alfred Molina and Randy Graff but Harvey and Andrea far outshone them.

[MelissaF]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 6:08pm

I saw Fierstein in NYC. DIdnt care for it.
I am already trying to get rid of my 3 tickets for the Toronto run. So disappointed.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 6:25pm

I do wonder how he'll play in some of the small burgs

I'm guessing he'll be fine, as even those who don't know anything about Torch Song Trilogy might be happy enough to see "that guy who turned Robin Williams into Mrs. Doubtfire" or "that guy who gets stuck in traffic and blown up at the beginning of Independence Day."

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 6:28pm

It's still Fiddler on the Roof. I can't see it doing that badly. I really liked Harvery's Tevye on Broadway and I was one of the few who liked the staging too so the downside of this for me is that the staging is different and Topol already came through my town so I probably won't be able to see Harvey, but I wish him well.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 6:40pm

I can't believe I got this info before BWW...and the thread wasn't deleted!
And, now that it's official, I'm very excited. But I do hope that Fierstein remains in the tour through its Cleveland engagement. I have never seen him live, and would very much enjoy that. And, I think a lot of people would know who Harvey Fierstein is. Hairspray reached a lot of people- most who are moderately versed in mainstream theatre would know "the mom from Hairspray", especially with that distinct voice.

[born2bebroadway]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 7:03pm

Hopefully it's coming to my area, I saw him on Broadway and he was great!

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 7:33pm

I really wanted to talk my grandfather to see Topel, who to him IS Tevye. I hope that now with this news there will be great discounts if no one wants to see Harvey!

[sanda]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 11:22pm

Fierstein's voice hurt my ears when he sung those songs. Plain awful!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 11:27pm

Can I just say I love how everyone has different opinions of Fierstein as Tevye. I saw the show with 2 friends. I LOVED his performance, cried when he performed "Chavaleh", it was incredible. One of my friends HATED him, said it was probably the worst performance he had ever seen. My other friend (a designer) was too confused by the design elements not fitting the show to bother paying attention to the performances.

[Brick]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 12:48am

I was pleasantly surprised by his voice. His "Little Bird" was heartbreaking.

I'm looking forward to seeing him again in San Francisco, where I agree he will be most popular.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 1:45am

While I'm sorry I had to miss Topol back in May (money just wasn't there), seeing Harvey in the show more than makes up for it!

[Parks]

Posted: 11/12/09 at 1:53am

Namo, you would be surprised how many people were truly excited to see the show in DALLAS, TX just for Topol--I worked at the theater in Dallas, and it was almost sold out almost every night. We had SO many patrons commenting on how they couldn't wait to see Topol--and afterward how much they enjoyed his performance. Seeing the "legendary" Topol one last time got a lot of people in to see the production.

Posted: 11/12/09 at 11:40am

Wait Topol was in the movie of Fiddler? I thought "Flash Gordon" was his claim to fame.