Fiddler on the Roof

I have the video with Topal and others. I enjoy it every time I watch it.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I first just heard the music to it when I was really little (it was probably recorded from the play Dr. Bob saw as an adult ) and never saw it, until I got a video of it a few years ago. My grandmother said the video did an excellent job, looking exactly like they remembered things to be.
Gina
PS..am I the only one who finds it weird that people would want the drinking/dancing scene left out? Was the rest of what happened ok?
da Gina

 

I played Avram the bookseller in our local community theater production.

The music is terrific, sad and hopeful at the same time.

 

Fiddler on the Roof is probably one of the most outstanding plays and musicals of all time.

It is not a matter of parts of it 'being' cultural, but of explaining a clash of cultures, which is one of the major points of the show. It IS historical in generality and to ignore the drunken dance scene (between the butcher and Tevye, is, I think, the scene being referred to) is to ignore the significance of the pain these people lived with on a daily basis and their attempts to deal with it.

The story of the pogroms in Russia is a story that needs telling, not just because it is part of Russian history, but because it is part of human history and the fulfillment of God's prophetic warnings about what would happen to the people of Israel if they disobeyed Him.

It shows the flimsiness of Tradition in the face of human reality and drove home to the Christians I know the absolute need of the Reality of Christ rather than tradition to see us all through.

We have some favorite scenes, as I suppose everyone who has seen it does:

"If I Were a Rich Man" -- classic!

The moment of discussion when Tevye agrees with both sides of an opposing argument by saying to each, "You are RIGHT!" and when someone else points out to him that they can't both be right, we acknowledges, "You are right!"

And that incredible discussion between Tevye and the butcher when Tevye thinks they are discussing the sale of a cow and the butcher is rather referring to the marriage of the butcher to Tevye's eldest daughter.

"And what would I do with two?"
"Why, the same as you do with one!"

And the butcher's eyeballs just about fall on the floor...

And the touchingly beautiful scene between father and daughter at the railway station.

An incredible, incredible show...

 

Have the video set. Love it. Never saw it live,
though.

 

I saw it in the theatre with my parents when it first came out.

I loved it, and am considering getting it on D.V.D.

I wonder if my whole perspective in liking it will change, now that I'm changing my perspective from the child to the parent? I need to see it again, I think.

 

Saw it the movies theater: 5 times!!!

Saw it on stage: 4 times!

Saw it on video till the tape wore out.

Thank God for DVD's