RockabyeHamlet Visits Anatevka ( 1/4 Evening)

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 5:33am

Well, I swore to myself I would see Fiddler on the Roof before it's closing and so today I dragged my boyfriend to the Minskoff and got student tickets. My motivation? I fell in love with the score before this and lets face it... whens the next time your going to see Harvey and Rosie in bed together?

The production is near perfection and was one of the few shows to make me cry and laugh more then once during the show ( not at the same time of course.)

The set was gorgeous. I was apprehensive after hearing how the set didnt match the tone of the show, but I must say I disagree. While it may be pretty, it is still run down looking enough, except for the lights in the trees, but I saw them as a symbol for the hope the people of the village have during the difficult times, refected throught their faith (the lights) The costumes were very much what I expected and I felt really no big oinon is needed. They served their purpose and nothing more. The choreography was amazing and well executed. The lighting was my favorite design element. So gorgeous ( Esp. the end)

Harvey Fierstein is near perfection as Tevye. While his singing was less then gorgeous, he made up for it in his acting and sheer presence. He was comedic, loving, and faithful all at the same time, and you couldn't help but feel for him and his plight. Harvey also had amazing chemistry with everyone on the stage. His comedic timing was impeccable, and at one point stopped the show for two minutes because everyone was laughing too hard to allow themselves to hear his next line. It was one of the few peformances where I felt I still owed something to the performer. The daughters ( Jennifer Bibiak was on for Chava) were all very good, Gina Lamperella as Tzeitel had a gorgeous voice and Rita Harvey's acting was superb. They comlimented each other well. Rosie O'Donnell as Golde was the only performance which left a bit to be desired. She was much better in the seccond act, where she displayed great affection over her daughters and her home. The one thing Rosie had an amazing amount of was acting ability. She became more real and more vivid as the play was developing. Nancy Opel as Yente was witty and imaginative. She had great chemistry with Rosie. My seccond favorite actor ( after Harvey) was Jacob Fishel as Motel. He was spectaculer, energetic, and riveting, and everything Motel should be. Its no wonder Tzeitel fell in love with him ( I almost did too)

All in all, a wonderful musical that will be sorely missed by Monday. ( P.s. Im hoping for a Replacement Tony for Harvey)