harvey fierstein in fiddler

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:06pm

het has any one seen him in it? I saw some vids. and he sounded horible. Proshots not boots.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:18pm

Harvey (along with Andrea Martin, and later, Rosie O'Donnell) brought a much-needed (Jewish) warmth and sensibility to the role and the show itself.

True, the vocals weren't necessarily ideal, but he was a very fine, and very strong Tevye.
Updated On: 1/30/08 at 07:18 PM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:21pm

I am pretty sure Rosie is not Jewish.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:23pm

He might not be the greatest singer, but he's a great actor and can really sell a song (basing this off clips and reputation). I would much perfer his type of singing actor in a show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:28pm

I never said Rosie was.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:31pm

Harvey (along with Andrea Martin, and later, Rosie O'Donnell) brought a much-needed (Jewish) warmth and sensibility to the role and the show itself.

Well then what were you saying when you said that Harvey along with Andrea and Rosie brought a Jewish warmth?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:39pm

I was saying that Harvey brought a Jewish warmth, and Martin/O'Donnell also brought a warmth to the role.

[sanda]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:44pm

He was awful! Plainly awful!

The whole replaced cast was just a joke. They completely ruined this beautiful, underrated production.

I still cannot get over with it till today.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 7:44pm

I saw it with Harvey and Andrea and loved their chemistry. Harvey's voice lent itself to the comedic elements of Tevye.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:06pm

This was the second show I'd ever seen on Broadway and I thought Harvey, and the production itself was stunning. Harvey's acting was beautiful. I'd seen the movie prior and didn't really care for the material at all, but Harvey made me care. True he doesn't have much of a voice anymore, but it was just fine for Tevye. It was perfect casting. I also enjoyed the new song, "Topsy-Turvy". It's my favorite song in the piece now.

[maya5892]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:10pm

I agree with you, CATSNYrevival. He's an amazing PERFORMER, and as long as his performance sticks out altogether then that is the most important part. But the best part of the revival for me were the sets. Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:20pm

In Rosie's book, I think she mentions something about how she should have been Jewish. I think it had to do with the fact that her family didn't like to talk about anything, but she did. But no, she's not Jewish.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:21pm

The sets were stunning. That, combined with the lighting design was wonderful. Just walking into the theatre was an experience.

[maya5892]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:24pm

Exactly! I sat down in my seat and was memorized. I swear I was staring at the set for about 5 minutes, jaw dropped.

[blueroses]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:24pm

He was absolutely wonderful. I liked him better than Molina.

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 9:44pm

I loved him in that show!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 10:18pm

Congrats to Harvey!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 11:16pm

Acting comes first, not singing. Always.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 11:37pm

I saw him with Martin. He was a wonderful Tevye, and I am glad to have seen his sincere performance.

[Brick]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 12:41am

I thought he played it like a great character actor playing one of the great character roles. He was hilarious, moving, and, yes, a very Jewish Tevye. I, too, worried the role would become effete because his humor is often so very queer. Instead, the Jewish aspect of his humor came out strong. And combined with his very sizeable acting chops, it made a surprisingly satisfying Tevye.

I saw Rosie, as well. She was solid, low-key, even charming. It was not a good fit, but her performance was so low-key the miscasting became completely inoffensive.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 12:49am

He was remarkable as was Martin. They turned around an awful production. I know Harvey and plenty of others like to stick up for Leveaux, but he is an awful director. As Forbidden Broadway brilliantly pointed out to the rest of the world, why on earth was the beggar a central character? And what was with the ending?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 1:00am

"why on earth was the beggar a central character?"

Why not? It did not interfere with the main story, nothing/little was rewritten to accomadate the addition, and was far more true to the material than some other "director's theater" choices some other people have made with the classics recently... (Gypsy? Sweeney Todd? Anyone? Anyone?)

"And what was with the ending?"

I thought the ending was touching, a really smart stage picture, and it furthered the whole point of the piece. It was not needed, but I thought it was beautiful.

On topic I thought Harvey was wonderful. It's a warm comic part written for a personality... and that's what Harvey is. Andrea Martin was beyond superb and PERFECT for the part... IMO. She brought a depth that I haven't seen in any other performance of that part. Lovely.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 1:00am

I love Harvey as an actor (Torch Song Trilogy being my favorite movie) but I don't like his singing voice. I did enjoy Andrea Martin- her comedic timing is wonderful, but Rosie O'Donnell...Rosie O'Donnell....I just won't say.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 1:04am

I'll just say that I thought Alfred Molina gave the worst performance I have ever seen from an actor in a leading role and Harvey Fierstein gave one of the most touching, commanding, humorous, and sincere performances I have ever seen, period.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 9:27am

I have worked in a couple of productions of Fiddler and could probably recite the entire show word for word. I've also seen Fiddler many, many times.

Watching Harvey do the role was like seeing the show for the first time. He was absolutely amazing.