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Fiddler on the Roof

The spotlight fell on the stage illuminating a fiddler dressed in male clothing-a newsboy cap, cropped pants and...women’s pumps! This weekend, the First Year Players, a drama troupe at the University of Virginia, put on a production of the musical Fiddler on the Roof. In addition to the role reversing fiddler, against the traditional casting of the play, the cast was made up of a number of women actresses playing male roles-painted beards and all. This casting choice reflected the major theme of the play: breaking through and reshaping the limits of traditional values and practice. Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, the play depicts the life of a Jewish community run by tradition and a model of patriarchy in the household. Based on the stories of Yiddish humorist Sholom Aleichem, the plot follows a community’s attempts to find a balance between adapting to new societal pressures. The opening song, "Tradition," spells out family roles, and it doesn’t take a riddle master to guess the right answer. See if you can guess... "And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix, Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?" Answer: "The daughter, the daughter!" "And who has the right, as master of the house, To have the final word at home?" Answer: "The Papa, the Papa!" "Who must raise the family and run the home, So Papa's free to read the holy books?" Answer: "The Mama, the Mama!" It is not too hard to see why any changes in these rigid rules would send shockwaves through the tradition-centered town. The main protagonist of the story, Tevye, becomes faced with this balancing act between change and tradition when his three eldest daughters go against tradition and choose their own husbands. His values are put to the test as he decides whether or not to provide his blessing over each of his daughter’s decisions. While some of the traditions spelled out at the beginning of the play may seem outdated to the average, 21st century American, the tune "Matchmaker" hit close to home for me. As a Jewish-American woman, I speak from experience that the matchmaking tradition is still alive, although not a binding contract. I’m not talking the stereotypical Slavic matchmaker with the standard hunchback, shawl and can-I’m talking about my family. The modern day matchmaking in my family comes in the form of questions: "What ever happened that that nice Jewish boy, [insert name here]?"; "A friend of a friend of mine has a grandson going to your university and he’s a nice, Jewish boy!", etc. Whether they know it or not, all single Jewish males fall under the category of "nice Jewish boys." I even catch my own mother falling into this matchmaking habit, despite the fact that she herself married outside of the faith. Despite progression, traditions run deep. Each community has its own traditions and values that evolve over time. Fiddler on the Roof raises this elemental theme that can relate to many people’s experiences, no matter what gender, race or religious background. Fiddler has stopped its run at the University of Virginia, but don’t let that deter you. Head on over to your nearest Blockbuster, rent the movie and think about traditions in your life.

Reviews: 1.25.06