Fiddler on the Roof officially opened on December 20 at the Broadway Theatre in the heart of New York City. Director Bartlett Sher, who directed The King and I last year, did a brilliant job with the musical’s direction.
Danny Burstein was transformative in his portrayal of Tevye, a milkman and father of five daughters, while Jessica Hecht triumphed as Golde, his wife. They are both able to give a modern twist to a classic musical. Everything from the costumes to the set design were all spectacular, and the same was true for its musical score. His version of “If I Were a Rich Man” was superb, and “L’chaim,” which translates into “To Life,” was a solid collaboration, among other noteworthy musical numbers. Without giving too much away, this is a musical that should be experienced by the entire family.
The Verdict
Overall, Fiddler on the Roof is an outstanding Broadway musical. It deserves to be nominated for many Tony awards this year, and it ought to secure wins for “Best Revival of a Musical,” and “Best Leading Actor in a Musical” for Burstein who is long-overdue for this honor, especially after five career Tony nominations to his credit. Burstein was fantastic as Luther Billis in South Pacific a few years back, but in this new musical, he outdoes himself as Tevye. The entire cast is extremely gifted and talented, and the script was flawless. Fiddler on the Roof garners an A rating.
