Fiddler on the Roof at SART
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre is ripping through productions this summer, and while the prolific number of one-person shows, all-star readings, and musical revues is impressive, Fiddler on the Roof feels like the cornerstone of its 50th season.
Lovingly directed by Janice Vertucci-Schreiber and featuring an ensemble of recognizable talent from the local theater community, the Broadway classic feels right at home on the modest Owen Theatre stage, which ably transforms into various interior and exterior spaces in the Russian shtetl of Anatevka circa 1905.
Richard Seagle’s spartan production design, anchored by a versatile ramp at the rear and mysterious wooden cages hanging from the rafters, and traditional Jewish clothing designed by William Tyler Ezzell and Karen Eske are key in making the time-traveling believable. But with Frank Calamaro starring as lovingly beleaguered milkman Tevye, the stage could be entirely blank and this particular time and place would still shine through.
Clocking his 16th production of Fiddler, Calamaro IS Tevye, fully living the demanding role that requires rapport with so many other actors and imbuing each interaction with authenticity. His passionate performance proves contagious to those around him, particularly Missy Stone as his wife Golda and the actors playing his three oldest daughters, Tzeitel (Samantha Resnick), Hodel (Blaine Hovia), and Chava (Ivy Brooks).
Further propelling their turns is a hit parade of a first act, featuring such musical standards as “Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “To Life,” and “Sunrise, Sunset” from the team of Jerry Bock (music) and Sheldon Harnick (lyrics). Concealed behind the back-stage curtain, the six-piece band under the direction of Aleisa A. Baker absolutely cooks, resulting in a lively opening half that one doesn’t want to see end — at least until the shocking act of violence by the Russian authorities that precedes the curtain.
The dramatic end of Act I provides a reminder that the book by Joseph Stein isn’t all weddings, tavern all-nighters, and sewing machine acquisitions. High praise to SART for selecting such timely material amid yet another global rise in antisemitism — as well as continuing Ukrainian/Russian tensions, especially considering that Anatevka is a present-day refugee village in Ukraine.
As the significantly more somber second act plays out and the walls start to close in on our Jewish characters — growing the cages’ metaphorical potential as a type of prison — welcome lighthearted moments nevertheless arise. More often than not, these respites come courtesy of Calamaro as he steps forward into a spotlit aside and thinks over a life-altering decision.
Calamaro takes theatergoers through Tevye’s rollercoaster of emotions in the course of a few lines, frequently surprising himself with his modernity as the master of the house is inspired by prioritizing his daughters’ happiness over outdated ideals. It’s that same forward thinking that defines this production of Fiddler on the Roof at this critical juncture in history and makes SART’s latest undertaking a must-see.
Fiddler on the Roof runs through June 30 at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre at Owen Theatre in Mars Hill. For details and tickets, visit SARTPlays.com.
(Photo by Cheyenne Dancy)
