Fiddler on the Roof - Regents Park OAT

There is a passivity and apathy in this staging

In the acting and singing and music

Which detached me from this in a way I have never experienced with this musical

Elements of school production left me disengaged

The Menier production was far better executed

I don’t think this revival has anything new or revelatory to add

Left at interval

parsley1 you are my barometer on these things. If you dislike it, I usually end up loving it so thanks for your review!

Checking notes, it appears I have never awarded fewer than five stars to a production of Fiddler. I love the movie too. I had high expectations indeed.

And how could I not adore a musical whose most famous number champions the subjunctive?

Well, tonight I learnt that it's possible.

There's nothing particularly bad about director Jordan Fein’s vision; it just never soars to the emotional crescendos of past versions.

As Tevye, Adam Dannheisser has no instinct for comic timing, and his jokes fall flat. He's not sufficiently larger than life. His reluctant journey from patriarchal traditionalist to tolerance and acceptance of more modern values, is meant to engender audience empathy at his plight, but, for the first time, I found myself not drawn along and not warming to the character.

There are no performances that excel. Everything is competently delivered or thereabouts with the notable exception of matchmaker Yente, an interpretation I thought to be embarrassingly sub am dram.

I pondered much on why the place name Anatevka is writ large along the front of the stage floor and also immediately above on the peeled-back "roof" in perfectly aligned mirror image. The effect is to look as if the identity of this time and place are engrained in the soil, only for the ground to be sliced through to reveal our story. It kinda works. That there are fields of wheat growing atop the ceiling adds to the effect.

The varied (presumably actors' own) British accents are distracting and unhelpful. Strangely, the couple of references to Kiev in Act 1 favour what we are now told approximates to the Ukrainian pronunciation, while the several utterances in Act 2 go with the Russian. Krakow was spoken in that odd way beloved of Americans to rhyme with cow.

Of course the most enjoyable aspect of Fiddler is its score, and the musicianship here is a treat for the ears from a sizeable orchestra. The final, slightly different, "fiddle" on the roof is an inspired touch, but the accompanying exodus does not pack the heart-rending punch it should.

Three stars.

Act 1: 19:47-21:15
Act 2: 21:39-22:28

It's been a few years since I last visited this venue. I was surprised that the inadequate toilet capacity has yet to be addressed, resulting in a rushed but extended interval. They could learn a thing or two from Kilworth House.

Extended to 28 September.

Adored this - much preferred to the Playhouse/Menier version which was a bit of a slog.

Beautifully cast, loved the design, loved the overall feel, gorgeous orchestra (loved the Fiddler) - I'm nearly 100 shows into 2024 and this is easily top 10.

Will be going again.

Grapes of Wrath is fairly long TBF

I agree

Must admit, I don't mind late starts at OAT. I just drive in, park in the inner circle and then have the relative luxury of stepping in to the car after the show and at least having a calm and civilised drive home. As for being anti-worker, I used to feel that way but I have now flipped my thinking and decided that work will always come second and that the doctrine of defined hours or shifts is anti-theatre. I know not everybody can adjust their working hours, but I must admit I do choose contracts now that give me the flex to work around my family and hobbies.

Last weekend, I clocked Fiddler at 2:58 (hh:mm) and Grapes at 2:48, so the latter was ten minutes shorter.

And neither of those was my longest show, as Stranger Things came in at 3:07.

I was absolutely blown away by this production - I have to add that I didn’t enjoy the Playhouse production and have never really liked the show (I love some of the orchestrations though) and I thought this was a completely 5* production. I was blown away by all aspects - Motel being a weak link but not enough to hinder my experience.

I can’t believe that I want to go back and see it again but I do

I always try to bring a water bottle, there is a refill point between the loos and the entrance. 

The bar queues were extremely quick too.