The Cary Players' Rendition of Fiddler on
the Roof Is a Visual and Auditory Feast

The 1964 Broadway and 1967 West End musical Fiddler on the Roof -- which won nine 1965 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Best Composer and Lyricist (Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick), and Best Author (Joseph Stein's) -- presents a challenge to any theater company that dares to produce it: "Are you good enough to do justice to this script?"

The Cary Players' current production of Fiddler on the Roof, with the one-two punch of director Nancy Gardner Rich and music director Darylene Cothren Hecht at the helm (and with a cast of no less than 31 talented and determined actors/singers/dancers), answers that question with a resounding, "Yes." Jerry Bock's music, Sheldon Harnick's lyrics, and Joseph Stein's book could not possibly have been better hands.

Also rising to (and, indeed, above) the challenge is the combined work of choreographer Sarah Bunch Preston, set designer Todd Houseknecht, costume designer Lauren Polak, sound designer Brandon Scopel, lighting designer Ryann Hooves Norris, master carpenter Kevin McIntire, stage manager Victoria J. Barnes, and a plethora of others.

Based on stories by Sholem Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish dairyman in a small village Anatevka in Russia in 1905, and his family. Tevye's first speech establishes the concept of a fiddler on a roof as a metaphor for the precariousness of their lives in the face of the social upheaval of that time and place. The opening song "Tradition" (for which an ensemble of villagers joins Tevye) sets the stage for the inevitable conflicts that arise between "the old ways" and "the new."

Front-and-center will be the issue of husbands for Tevye's three oldest daughters -- which will prevail: the tradition of parental control and a professional matchmaker? Or the idea of marrying-for-love? Looming in the background of these tales is the ever-present threats of living in an authoritarian, anti-Semitic society.

The key to any production of Fiddler on the Roof is the role of Tevye, and I cannot say enough about how thoroughly Jamie Gorski fits the bill. Dynamic and charismatic, Gorski connects, seemingly effortlessly, with his audience from his first entrance and stays connected throughout the show. Whether he is speaking to other characters or to the audience (in an aside), or in one of his many conversations with God, every word he speaks resonates as honest and believable. (A nice touch: every time that Tevye addresses God, he directs his gaze to the same spot.) And Gorski's voice? YES!

Also quite impressive: Heather Shinpaugh in the role of Tevye's wife Golde; she imbues the character with a delightful blend of humor and a no-nonsense, take-charge-type of demeanor.

Jamie Gorski and Heather Shinpaugh star as Tevye and Golde (photo by Debra Grannan)

At the risk of over-using the words "delightful" and "believable," I must say that these are the two adjectives that best describe the chemistry between these two characters and between each of them and their children -- Shelby Barros' Tzeitel, Elena Mulligan's Hodel, and Brynna Rosenberg's Chava. These five, along with the two youngest daughters (played by Violet Landwehr as Shprintze and Lydia Gentry as Bielke) present a family unit that you will be pleased to meet.

Suitors for the oldest daughters -- Jaret Preston as Motel the Tailor, Marshall Moller as Perchik the Student, and Ryan Lim as the Russian Fyedka -- all have great chemistry with their "intendeds," and each has his own approach to "navigating the waters" around Tevye and Golde.

In the role of Yente the Matchmaker, Karen Williams shows her acute sense of comic timing while preserving her character's self-importance and lack of self-awareness.

From the fiddler's first note through the final bows at curtain call, this show is a visual and auditory feast. The acting, the singing, and the dancing are all first-rate. The orchestra is phenomenal. The songs are unforgettable.

The comedic moments are all well-timed. Especially entertaining: the verbal sparring between Tevye and Golde, the "milk-cow vs. wife" confusion between Tevye and Lazar Wolf the Butcher (Jared Joyal), the dramatization of Tevye's "dream," and the celebration of a "new arrival."

Moments of conflict are always poignant. Each of the daughters' attempts at self-matchmaking results in at least one such moment.

And there are some very touching moments, especially "Now I Have Everything" and "Do You Love Me?"

The Cary Players' production of Fiddler on the Roof stars (from left) Elena Mulligan as Hodel,
Shelby Barros as Tzeitel, and Brynna Rosenberg as Chava (photo by Debra Grannan)

Details that Stand Out:

• The freeze-frames during Tevye's asides.
• Lighting effects on the screen at the back of the set.
• The cutouts at the bottom of the screen that establish the presence of the village on the horizon.
• Tevye's cart.
• The "Sabbath Prayer" scene as it expands.
• The wedding scene: the songs, the dance, the costumes, and the beards (you'll see!).
• "Bottle Dance" -- how do they do it?!?
• "Wedding Dance"
• The comedic cursing/spitting scene.
• The phrase "as poor as synagogue mice."
• Lazar Wolf's deceased wife (you'll see!).

Jaret Preston and Shelby Barros star as Motel and as Tzeitel with the Ensemble (photo by Debra Grannan)

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

• I would like to have seen Lazar Wolf aged more. Makeup? Grey hair and beard? Posture? Movement?
• At times, Perchik's volume was rather low.
• The program lists "Fruma-Sarah 'Top,'" but doesn't credit the "Bottom."
• Jaret Preston is listed in the Cast list as "Jaret Peterson."

The Cary Players' presentation of Fiddler on the Roof plays Friday, May 5th, through Sunday, May 7th, at the Cary Arts Center. Treat yourself -- catch it if you can!

Brynna Rosenberg and Jamie Gorski star as Chava and Tevye (photo by Debra Grannan)

Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5-7), based on the Tevye the Dairyman stories by Sholem Aleichem, directed in Cary by Nancy Gardner Rich and choreogaphed Sarah Bunch Preston, with music direction by Darylene Cothren Hecht, and starring Jamie Gorski as Tevye the Dairyman, Heather Shinpaugh as Tevye's wife Golde, Shelby Barros as Tevye's daughter Tzeitel, Elena Mulligan as Tevye's daughter Hodel, Brynna Rosenberg as Tevye's daughter Chava, Karen Williams as Yente the Matchmaker, Jaret Preston as Motel the Tailor, Marshall Moller as Perchik the Student, Ryan Lim as the Russian Fyedka, and Jared Joyal as Lazar Wolf the Butcher VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/CaryPlayers. (Cary Players at the Cary Arts Center in Cary). THE PRESENTER: https://caryplayers.org/, https://www.facebook.com/CaryPlayers, https://twitter.com/CaryPlayers, and https://www.youtube.com/user/CaryPlayers. 2022-23 SEASON: https://caryplayers.org/shows/. THE VENUE: https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/facilities/cary-arts-center, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cary-Arts-Center/235735853122351, and https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/15097356/cary-arts-center/. DIRECTIONS: https://caryplayers.org/cary-arts-center/. PARKING: https://www.townofcary.org/home/showpublisheddocument/7187/637648017090330000. ACCESSIBILITY: https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/facilities/cary-arts-center/accessibility. TOWN OF CARY COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL: https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/facilities/prcr-indoor-facilities-know-before-you-go. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1964 Broadway and 1967 West End Musical): http://fiddlermusical.com/, https://nytf.org/fiddler-on-the-roof/, https://www.mtishows.com/fiddler-on-the-roof, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/fiddler-on-the-roof-3513, http://www.iobdb.com/Production/6569, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddler_on_the_Roof. STUDY GUIDE #1 (2016 national tour): http://fiddlermusical.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FIDDLER-Study-Guide-Sept-21-Final-spread.pdf. STUDY GUIDE #2 (Utah Shakespeare Festival): https://www.bard.org/study-guides/fiddler-on-the-roof-study-guide/. JERRY BOCK (New Haven, CT-born composer, 1928-2010): https://www.songhall.org/profile/Jerry_Bock, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jerry-bock-11403, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/11434, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0090656/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Bock. SHELDON HARNICK (Chicago, IL-born lyricist, 1924-present): https://www.songhall.org/profile/Sheldon_Harnick, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/sheldon-harnick-8645, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/11436, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0363676/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Harnick. JOSEPH STEIN (New York, NY-born playwright, 1912-2010): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/joseph-stein-6978, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/8837, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0825524/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stein. TICKETS:$24 ($22 students under 18 and seniors 55+), plus taxes and fees. Click here and scroll down to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-439-4410 or info@caryplayers.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: Cary Players.

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