Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – For the holidays, Paper Mill stages a timely, generously performed revival of Bock & Harnick FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

• By drediman
• December 11, 2023
• No Comments

For its annual holiday musical, Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ has programmed a revival of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. For those of you unfamiliar with the Tony-winning musical (Bock and Harnick’s score brims with memorable songs, such as  “Tradition”, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”, “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Sunrise, Sunset”), it tells the story of the milkman Tevye and his family as they attempt to maintain traditions and beliefs while navigating the societal pull of a bold new world.

Set in a small village in Russia and overtly dealing with anti-Semitism, the production arrives at an uncannily timely and pointed time. As such, the revival registers with more urgency and pointed commentary than I’ve typically experienced in regional and touring productions of the musical (e.g., the delineation between Anatevka’s Jewish inhabitants and the Russians is more pronounced than I remember), giving this Fiddler on the Roof additional bite that goes a long way. As sturdily directed by Paper Mill Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, the handsome staging remains faithful to Jerome Robbins original production (including his iconic character-driven choreography), nicely filling Paper Mill’s large stage with evocative, painterly stage pictures.

As typical for Paper Mill, the revival features a Broadway-caliber cast, including the likes of Jordan Gelber (Avenue Q) as Tevye, Etai Benson (Company) as Motel, and Alexandra Socha (Fun Home, Head over Heels) as Tzeitel. Coming off most distinctly, however, are Jill Abramovitz as Golde and Suzanne Grodner as Yente, both of whom imbue their characters with a steeliness and hard won dignity that I found moving and apropos for the times. Altogether, this Fiddler on the Roof is as generously acted and richly sung as they come – and, in my opinion, well worth the trip out to New Jersey to catch.

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FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Regional, Musical
Paper Mill Playhouse
3 hours (with one intermission)
Through January 7