Topol in Fiddler at NJPAC — Page 2

"While Topol can arguably play his role for years and years, the two of them don't really have that opportunity, so I can understand taking the money while they still have it."

Not true in the slightest! Off the top of my head - Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan, Jennifer Holiday in Dreamgirls and Carol Channing in Hello Dolly.

Age is wholely secondary. :-P

For full disclosure, I have never, still do not, and will never understand the appeal of Adam Pascal.

This is the same production that toured with Topol just a few years ago. He owns the sets and all the physical production. Sue Cella was also the Golde in that tour. It is a serviceable production. But definitely worth seeing.

---

PJ, darling, are you implying that they're all Bottomols?

I saw him last year in "Gigi" in London - couldn't decide if he was half asleep, drunk or just indifferent - he seemed to be 'phoning his performance in.

Many years ago he sat right in front of me at Caryl Churchill's "Serious Money". The show obviously offended many people as they left the theatre in droves - after the interval I was just about the only person left in my row and Topol was one of the few left in his row!

Are there any code or discount things for NJPAC, I've been lookin' all over for one.
Thanks.

And Bikel has played the role more than anyone else.

But it's still Mostel's. On stage, at least.

Topol's legacy is the movie - which is great.

they're not attached. the bottles are balanced in our hats with no tape, velcro, or any adhesive substance whatsoever. what you saw was the first real drop of a bottle since we opened. which means you saw the show saturday, not sunday....as it was my bottle that fell.

---

Updated On: 3/16/09 at 10:43 AM

Oops! You are right, nycdncr! I was at the Saturday matinee! Well, I'm sorry that happened to you but, honestly, most of the people around me were saying they thought it was planned because of how someone rushed in to replace you. They felt it looked like part of the show. No matter, the show goes on and I thought all the dancers were wonderful. Does it give you guys alot of anxiety before you do that dance each time? I thought the wedding dance and the earlier one with the Russians were both wonderful- lots of energy and I loved the choreography.

Please relate to the cast how much we enjoyed the production. Besides enjoying Topol, I loved Mary Stout's performance (didn't think she got nearly enough recognition at the curtain call), and Jamie Davis' singing. Also, I enjoyed Erik Liberman and Bill Nolte. I felt Fruma-Sarah could have been a bit more menacing but I loved how the dream sequence was just like a Chagall painting (in the actor's movements, colors, timing, etc). I'm not sure I ever saw a production in which I felt that, even if that was the original intent, so I enjoyed that part alot. Susan Cella and Rena Strober were also good. I agree with a previous poster that the caliber of this production seemed much better and tighter than most touring shows that I've seen. I don't see how it's any different in caliber than most Broadway productions.

I felt the audience was very receptive and very drawn into the show. I think that is a huge accomplishment for a show that is so familiar to so many for such a long period of time. BTW, nycdncr, check your PM. Please relate my best wishes to the cast and good luck with the rest of the run!

Updated On: 3/16/09 at 12:15 PM