Bikel breathes life into traditional musical

As the sweet, familiar notes of the title character's violin were heard, a hush fell over the crowd. From those first simple tones to the last curtain call, Tuesday night's performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" proved once again that after countless performances, it still has the power to move audiences.\nThe play tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish family man, and his community in the time prior to the Russian Revolution. Filled with witty one-liners, as well as painful moments modeled after true events from the Russian pogroms, the show told a poignant tale while still managing to keep a sense of humor.\nFor those familiar with the show, the night had potential for disappointment. For several weeks, it has been difficult to commute without coming across numerous fliers for the show announcing Theodore Bikel in the lead role. The combination of hype and years of hearing the Broadway soundtrack left many (this writer included) wondering whether they would be able to enjoy the play. At first, the show seemed destined to fail. Bikel's portrayal of Tevye was stiff and his delivery unnatural. The cast managed to outshine this famous star with ease.\nBut by the end of the first act, Bikel had warmed up and managed to thaw out his role as well. At last, we were able to see the endearing Tevye for which the show is famous. The rest of the cast also improved with each number. Especially worth mentioning were the characters of Yente (Yiddish for gossip) the Matchmaker played with nosy gusto by Mimi Bensinger, and the shy, young tailor Motel brought into a timid manhood by Michael Iannucci.\nAs the audience was made to forget any less-than-perfect moments in the beginning of the play, seasoned fans of the show were made to forget their preference for the original cast as the night went on. Tevye's daughters were a breath of fresh air compared to the wailing vocals used on the Broadway recording. The actresses who played Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava were lively and lovely in their portrayal of three young women dreaming of the future. Whether they were dancing with broomstick grooms to "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," or creating a nostalgic background to Tevye's solo "Chavaleh," these young women added a unique spark to the show.\nAlthough the show sometimes tried too hard to add color, for example in the nearly psychedelic dream sequence in act one, overall it was a great success in keeping a classic production looking like new.\nSome may perceive "Fiddler on the Roof" as a depressing play, where every joyful moment is broken up by sadness or tragedy. To a certain extent, this is true. The story is a bittersweet mixture of jokes and misery, but that is only because it reflects a sad time of displacement and wandering for the Jewish people of Europe. The point of the play is to illustrate that where there is life, there is hope. No matter what happens to Tevye and his little village of Anatevka, he never loses his devotion to God, or to his family. By holding onto his faith and the traditions of his heritage (personified by the fiddler), Tevye manages to maintain a shaky balance, and even find occasion to laugh at his misfortune.\nThis message carries through the entire play as humor makes an entrance into even the most desperate moments. By the end of the night, an overwhelming sense of hope was left for the audience as the characters were seen packing their belongings and moving on to what they hoped would be better times. This message was as well received as Bikel, who was given a standing ovation.\n"Fiddler on the Roof" conveyed a sense of cautious optimism that is as effective now as it was when Tevye first appeared on the stage so many years ago. It seems that some traditions just can't be broken.