Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is one of the great stage and film musicals. It opened on Broadway in 1964 with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and libretto by Joseph Stein. Zero Mostel played the protagonist, Tevye the Milkman, Maria Karnilova his wife Golde, Beatrice Arthur as Yente the Matchmaker, and Bert Convy as Perchik the student revolutionary.
Tevye was played by Chaim Topol in later productions; he also starred in the successful 1971 film adaptation by Norman Jewison.
The musical was revived on Broadway for the fourth time in 2004, with Alfred Molina (and later Harvey Fierstein) as Tevye.
The story is based on Tevye and his Daughters, or Tevye the Milkman by the Russian Jewish author Sholom Aleichem , originally published in 1949.
Story
Template:Spoiler Template:Sectionclean The play is set in the Jewish shtetl of Anatevka in Tsarist Russia in 1905. The story centers on Tevye's attempts to maintain family and religious traditions while adapting to new pressures. These manifest themselves chiefly in the strong-willed actions of Tevye's eldest three daughters, who each select her own husband (directly or indirectly), contrary to tradition. In both the film and stage production, Tevye has five daughters.
The play's name stems from a painting by Marc Chagall, one of many surreal paintings he created of Eastern European Jewish life. The Fiddler is a metaphor of survival through tradition and joyfulness. In the 1971 film adaptation, the Fiddler is played by Isaac Stern.
This uses the song list below.
A lone fiddler standing on a roof plays a tune as Tevye enters to speak to the audience about the customs of his people and about how they have lived all their lives in Anatevka. He equates life in Anatevka with being a fiddler on a roof: trying to scratch out a simple, pleasant tune without breaking his neck. "How do we keep our balance?" he asks. "That I can tell you in one word: Tradition!" (Tradition)
At the home of Tevye, everyone is busy preparing for the Sabbath meal. Golde, the matriarch, is ordering the five daughters about so that they are done on time. Tzeitel, the eldest daughter, spots Yente, the matchmaker, on her way to their house. Golde dismisses the five daughters outside so that she can speak privately with the talkative Yente. Yente explains that Lazar Wulf, the town's butcher, has his heart set on marrying Tzeitel to which Golde proudly agrees but says that Tevye must first meet Lazar and accept the idea for himself, for he does not like Lazar because he is not educated, except about meat, and doesn't want a son-in-law who is older than he is.
The three eldest daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava, re-enter and talk about their excitedness over an arranged marriage. Tzeitel however, warns them not be so hasty because they are so poor, whatever husband Yente brings they will probably have to take. The younger two siblings change their tune quickly, praying that Yente will be kind with her choices. (Matchmaker, Matchmaker)
Tevye is late arriving home because his horse has broken his foot (a running joke of the play, as the horse never actually appears, though the play takes place over the course of something like a year). He prays to God and asks him why he could not have been a rich man. He finds no shame in being poor, but complains that there's no great honor in it either. He imagines his life as a rich man. (If I Were a Rich Man)
The men of the village confront Tevye, as he is also late delivering all their milk and cheese. Avram, the bookseller, the only one who can read outside of Hebrew, has news from the outside world: there was a settlement of Russian Jews who were thrown out of their town and while everyone blesses them and curses their oppressors, a student from Kiev, Perchik, overhears them and scolds them for doing nothing more than talk. Everyone dismisses him as a radical but Tevye takes a liking to him and invites him home for a place to stay and meals to eat in exchange that he tutor the five daughters. The two arrive home to meet the family and Motel Kamzoil, the tailor, who has been friends with Tzeitel since childhood, arrives to eat Sabbath with them as well. Golde tells Tevye to meet Lazar after the Sabbath but does not tell him why. Tevye thinks it's so Lazar can have his new milk cow to slaughter. Tzeitel tells Motel that he must talk to Tevye tonight and ask for her hand in marriage immediately. This is against tradition of course, as a matchmaker is traditionally to arrange marriages and Motel is nothing but a poor tailor. The daughter's family will want someone well off so that they do not worry about her. Motel fails to gather the courage to ask and he runs out of time as everyone settles in for the beginning of the ceremonious Sabbath meal. (Sabbath Prayer)
After Sabbath, Tevye travels to Mordcha's inn, where everyone is drinking. Lazar is set to meet Tevye there. After a misunderstanding, Lazar reveals that he would like to marry Tzeitel and while at first Tevye is hesitant, he decides in the end that it is quite the beneficial match and agrees. The whole bar, including a group of well-meaning Russians, join in the festivities and everyone drinks merrily. (To Life)
Outside of the inn, a drunken Tevye meets the Russian Constable, assigned to watch over the Jews in the town. He explains to Tevye, because of all the Jews, he likes him, that there is going to be a "demonstration" in the coming weeks (a pogrom). Tevye is saddened by this but the Constable says he's powerless to stop it and that at least, no one will be hurt.
The next morning, a hungover Tevye delivers the news to Tzeitel and the family that she will be marrying Lazar Wulf. While Golde is quite overjoyed and goes off to thank Yente, Hodel, Chava, and Perchik's reaction are non-plussed. Tzeitel convinces Tevye not to let her marry Lazar because she would be unhappy and asks if her happiness is more important to him than some stupid agreement he made. Tevye relents and Motel arrives to proclaim that a year ago, Tzeitel and he made a pledge to one another that they would marry. Tevye is not willing until Motel finally stands up for himself and Tevye believes he is finally talking like a man. He is hesitant still as Motel is just a poor tailor but decides that at least it cannot get worse for him. He gives them his blessing but realizes he must think of a way to convince Golde to allow the marriage. Motel celebrates with Tzeitel, calling it the greatest miracle of all. (Miracle of Miracles)
That night, Tevye devises a plan. He concocts a dream he had and tells it to Golde where her departed Grandma Tzeitel (Tzeitel's namesake) returns from the grave to bless the marriage of Tzeitel and Motel, not Lazar. All of a sudden in the dream, the first wife of Lazar, Fruma Sarah, rises from her grave and says that if Tzeitel marries Lazar, she will kill him in three weeks' time. This is enough for Golde. Tzeitel will marry Motel, at the blessing of Grandma Tzeitel and the threat of Fruma Sarah. (Tevye's Dream)
The wedding is set and everyone arrives to celebrate. Tevye and Golde marvel at how the two children have grown. Hodel and Perchik ponder if they'll ever be wed. (Sunrise, Sunset)
At the reception, there is much dancing and celebration. (The Bottle Dance) Lazar causes a scene, angry that it should have been his wedding and Perchik finally ends the fighting by breaking yet another tradition: he crosses the barrier and dances with Hodel. To save face (though he believes it to be insane) Tevye grabs Golde to dance with him and Motel grabs Tzeitel. Soon, everyone, including the Rabbi, is dancing but the dance is abruptly stopped by the Constable who says that tonight is the night for the pogrom. He apologizes but sends in henchmen who destroy almost everything at the wedding and wound Perchik, who attempted to fight back. After they leave, Tevye wearily tells everyone to clean up.
At the top of Act II, Tevye prays to God about the last act. He calls it "quite the wedding gift." He asks if God has the time, to give Motel his new sewing machine to help business go faster.
Perchik tells Hodel he must return to Kiev to stir the revolution. He explains that the pogrom at Tzeitel and Motel's wedding was not an isolated incident and will happen again, or far worse, and is already happening elsewhere in the world and that it is not fair or right. Perchik, and others like him, are gathering to stand against the Czar of Russia. Hodel does not like how Perchik is simply leaving and she fails to understand his reasons. He asks if they can be engaged as he loves her and wants her to know that even though they are apart, he will always be hers. She agrees. (Now I Have Everything)
Tevye is not so agreeable with this news, however. He at first will not allow Perchik to be engaged to Hodel because the first thing he's doing is abandoning her here. At last though, he finally relents.
Tevye explains this recent event to Golde who is not happy with the news either. He says they are powerless to stop it though, this breaking of tradtion. This love, he says, it's a new style. Tevye then wonders if Golde loves him. Golde is at first hesitant to answer as she thinks it is irrelevant at this time with all of her daughters getting married off without her consent and because it's kind of pointless after 25 years of marriage anyway. Tevye explains that even though theirs was an arranged marriage his parents said they would soon learn to love each other anyway.(Do You Love Me?) The very touching song ends with the lines:
Tevye: So you love me?
Golde: I suppose I do.
Tevye: Then I suppose I love you too.
Together: It doesn't change a thing. But even so, after twenty-five years, it's nice to know.
News spreads quickly in Anatevka. (The Rumor)
Hodel receives word that Perchik has been arrested and decides she must go to be with him. Tevye is saddened by this but Hodel explains that her home is no longer with him but she will always love her family. But she now has love for Perchik as well. (Far from the Home I Love)
Chava has fallen for a young Russian man throughout the play named Fyedka. She finally gathers the courage to ask Tevye to allow the marriage but this is the line Tevye will not cross. He will not allow Chava to marry outside of the faith. Chava disobeys and elopes with Fyedka before running off. Tevye wonders where he went wrong. (Chavaleh)
Even with all the good news surrounding the town like Tzeitel and Motel's new sewing machine, the Constable tells everyone they have three days to remove themselves from the town. The townspeople rationalize that Anatevka is after all, just a place. Everyone asks the Rabbi wouldn't this be a good time for the Messiah to come. The Rabbi supposes that they'll just have to wait for him elsewhere. (Anatevka)
Lazar Wolf is going to Chicago to live with his brother-in-law. Tzeitel and Motel are going to Warsaw until they can come to America to live with Tevye and his family, who are all going to live with Uncle Avram. Hodel is still in Siberia with Perchik. Yente is going to the Promised Land (Israel) to matchmake there. Chava returns with Fyedka to try and get Tevye to relent. Though he does not speak directly to her, he tells Tzeitel as Chava is leaving that he hopes God will be with them. Everyone says their good-byes and the Fiddler is invited along with Tevye (the original theatrical ending and the movie's ending) or is left behind in Anatevka (the new revival's ending).
- The revival also features a song sung by Yente and some women of the village entitled "Topsy Turvy" discussing the disappearing role of the matchmaker in society.
- Some of Tevye's song titles are omitted from this summary but they are explained as his consent to each marriage. To Tzeitel and Motel, he sings "Tevye's Monologue" where he argues about whether it's right for Tzeitel and Motel to have given each other a pledge. "Tevye's Rebuttal" is to Perchik and Hodel where he wonders what right they have, arranging their own engagement and not even asking for agreement, just a blessing. Tevye relents and gives both.
- There is also a chorus of Tradition after Tevye sings Chavaleh and Chava attempts to talk to him. He declares that she is dead to him and walks away as the chorus swells.
Songs
Act I
- Tradition - Tevye and the Company
- Matchmaker, Matchmaker - Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava (sometimes, Tevye's youngest two daughters are also included in the chorus of the number)
- If I Were a Rich Man - Tevye
- Sabbath Prayer - Tevye, Golde, and the Company
- To Life - Tevye, Lazar Wulf, and the Company
- Tevye's Monolgue - Tevye
- Miracle of Miracles - Motel
- Tevye's Dream - Tevye, Golde, Grandma Tzeitel, Fruma Sarah, and the Company
- Sunrise, Sunset - Tevye, Golde, Perchik, Hodel, and the Company
- The Bottle Dance - Instrumental, but four (up to seven, I've seen) dancers will balance bottles on their head as they perform a balancing act and dance
Act II
- Now I Have Everything - Perchik and Hodel
- Tevye's Rebuttal - Tevye
- Do You Love Me? - Tevye and Golde
- The Rumor - Yente and the Company
- Far From the Home I Love - Hodel
- Yente - Yente and the Women
- Little Chaveleh - Tevye, while Golde and the three daughters and their husbands traditionally dance in the background
- Anatevka - The Company
The best-known songs from the tuneful but unconventional score are "If I Were A Rich Man", "Sunrise, Sunset" and "Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me A Match". In 1993, British reggae duo, Louchie Lou And Michie One released a reggae adaptation of "If I Were A Rich Man" entitled "Rich Girl", which became a dancehall hit in America and was popular across Europe. In late 2004, Gwen Stefani released a hit song called "Rich Girl" which was based on Louchie Lou And Michie One's earlier single.
Awards
The Broadway production won nine Tony Awards:
- Best Musical
- Composer and lyricist: Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
- Leading actor: Zero Mostel
- Featured actress: Maria Karnilova
- Author: Joseph Stein
- Producer: Harold Prince
- Director: Jerome Robbins
- Choreographer: Jerome Robbins
- Costume designer: Patricia Zipprodt
The film won three Academy Awards, including one for arranger-conductor John Williams.