Saw Harvey Tuesday evening.

This is one of the most breathtaking performances I have seen on a stage. Harvey isn't in fine voice. He isn't a singer. But he is an actor. I have cried at every performance I've been to of this show, but this Tevye... The fatherly love, the familial relationships he builds in the beginning of the show adds so much to the heartbreaking 'Little Chavalah'.
See it for his performance.

Andrea would be better suited as Yente but does an okay job but is no match for her predecessor.

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I think Fran Drescher would be a good match for Harvey. The two of them would be wonderful on "Do You Love Me?"

Love,
Joshie

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lol, I'd LOVE to hear them sing that song together.

I disagere Doc and thoroughly agree with iluvtheatretrash. I saw the show last night and thought Harvey was terrfic.

Harvey is such a warm enveloping larger-than-life presence that his spirit enriches the entire production. He handles the humor with his typical aplomb (and resists doing his usual schtick -- the "takes" and stage business he does are all very much "Tevye" and not "Harvey") and is thoroughly convincing, even heartbreaking in the dramatic scenes. His love for his children and his wife and his relationship to God all seemed quite genuine and very touching. He also brings an antic, impish physicality to the role that's both funny and endearing.

As for his singing, well, Harvey's voice is Harvey's voice, but it didn't bother me at all (I'm sure some will have a different reaction). He most certainly CAN carry a tune and surprisingly, he actually "sings" more of the score than I expected him to (I expected more of a Yul Brynner/Rex Harrison type performance) especially when he avoids that "bleat" he used so much as Edna. He has very good pitch and nailed the harmonies he needed to. He knows how to use and negotiate the limitations of his instrument very well (there's more "voice" there than you would expect) -- for example, he sang his verse of "Sunrise, Sunset" sotto voce, employing a hushed tone that made it sound like he was simply overcome with emotion -- very moving and effective (more so than many "real" singers I've heard in the role). His "Chaveleh" was all raw emotion and his "If I Were A Rich Man" was simply a comedic tour de force -- his acting, his singing, his impressions all hilarious. All in all, Harvey was a terrific Tevye, very ably handling the role's many demands and making it his own.

As for the rest, Andrea Martin had many fine moments as Golde (though, very oddly, her "Do You Love Me" duet with Harvey didn't quite "land" as strongly as I thought it could/should -- the two of them need to do a bit of fine tuning because it really should be a highlight). The rest of the cast is fine, though John Cariani seems to be in another show from everyone else on stage (talk about SCHTICK ..... he needs to really tone it down about ten notches). I liked the whole spare Chekhovian Russian forest look (though what's the deal with the roof going up and down, at times indisciminately?). Nice work from Leveaux overall, though I could quibble. A very good production of an all-time classic with a jewel of a performance from Harvey at the center.

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Well, we'll have to agree to disagree on Harvey as a whole.

I do agree that his rendition of "Sunrise, Sunset" was one of if not his best successes singing. His "sotto voce, employing a hushed tone that made it sound like he was simply overcome with emotion" was moving. "If I Were A Rich Man" worked. On the other hand his "Chaveleh" was to me painful and not because of "raw emotion" because I could not get by wanting to hold my ears.

Perhaps I am biased. I loved Alfred Molina in the role. His energy and voice, while not a fine voice, was easy to listen to. He, I would go back to see yet again. I don't intend to return while Harvey is playing Tevye.

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Updated On: 1/13/05 at 04:18 PM

I really liked Harvey's dancing -- he really gets into it and looks like he's enjoying himself (not self-onscious at all for an admitted non-dancer). Have a great time.

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I saw Jan Peerce as a child and Zero in the revival a few years later (as well as a couple of not-so-famous Tevyes regionally). Not sure how to compare Harvey to any of them -- I really tried not to think of the earlier versions I'd seen and be as open as possible -- he's different, but certainly first rate in his own right.

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Margo, it seems that every time I've read one of your posts today I've added another item to my "shows to see" list. The nice thing about this one is that I can safely get my family to go, too.

I can't wait to hear what you think of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. :)

A perfect example of the need to somehow reward replacement actors. Here's Harvey Fierstein shining in a role and perhaps deserving at least an award nomination for it, but not eligible for one. What a shame. Alfred Molina was not originating a role, but could be nominated because it was a new production. How unfair that Harvey, who apparently cannot be accused of imitating his predecessor (one of the reasons given for not rewarding replacement performers), cannot even be nominated for a major theater award.

Updated On: 1/14/05 at 02:47 AM

Margo-- I personally thought that for someone with that kind of a... voice... he was at his finest as a singer. He wasn't pushing and there was almost a nice sound coming out if not for the hoarseness of it.

Or maybe I'm crazy.

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The BWW reviews are 180 degrees apart. One minute i read "put cotton in your ears" and I decide not to go--i'm not THAT masochistic. Next minute it's "Harvey handles the score nicely" so I change my mind again. OY!

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I am OBSESSED with Souvenir. I'm thinking of going again this weekend and getting Judy's autograph. And I haven't wanted to do that since David Cassidy had his attorney hand me that restraining order...

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Updated On: 1/14/05 at 11:54 AM

Rath,
Care to introduce us to your new icon?

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