Have You Ever Refused To Break Character ala Daniel Day-Lewis? — Page 2

To answer everyone's questions regarding how the production was done:

It was done in a large outdoor venue, with no real backstage or wingspace. The set was all centered around the yard in front of Tevye's house (all the normally-interior scene were set outdoors, and it worked fine. The one exception was the dream sequence, where the door of the house lower on winches and became a cool bed). This stage was floating on a small pond, and the actors only space to sit and relax was off the the side of it in full sight of the audience and be in charcter.

As far as the ending change...as the residents of Anatevke are leaving, the russians start to close in from all sides of the pond (through the audience as well) and eventually we are surrounded. as this is happening the villagers are frightened and GOlde begins a rousing version of "Sabbath Prayer" and others begin to join in. As it ends the russians all raised their hand to strike and everyone froze..save for Tevye who looks up and sings "amen" and the fiddler, on the roof, playing away. The moment where we froze, every night I lunged over my wife and baby to protect them (My character arc that i tried to emphasize was that Motel went from being a total klutz, to earning Tevye's trust that he could stand up and take responsibility for his family). The emotional build-up of the scene and the music was so intense that there was sobbing heard form the audience every night. I would have people waiting for half an hour after the show, once I had changed and come back out, still me and thanking me for a great night of theatre. It was definitely the most intense and rewarding experience of my very short acting career, and the only time i have been truly satisfied with my performance.

Akiva

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 10:20 PM

I once worked with a girl who felt that because her character was abused as a child, she would probably be a "cutter" and would show up at rehearsals in bloody bandages. No lie.

Since then, I've tried to stay clear of actors who "live the part".

Didn't anyone think my joke was funny? As in George W. Bush? Come on people.

Anyway, I think that sounds like a powerful way to end "Fiddler." I think that the way the show normally ends is supposed to reflect how the Jews keep on striving despite centuries of persecution, that they will always survive. The way you guys did it sounds depressing, but ya know, I like depressing (and the change was approved by MTI you said).