Fiddler on the Roof Reviews

M. Weber from Costa Mesa, California

UNEVEN

With a bang-up opening act, I expected much more from what turned out to be, dare I say, an insipid play. The orchestra played well, but the singing was not the best, especially the middle daughter. I enjoyed Teyve's character, but I had to guess at some of his lines, his vocal projection was not there. Yenta was so disappointing! Sounded like she was reading her lines and couldn't decide on which accent to use. Her timing was nonexistent. I found the lighting very muddy, the humor missing or muted, and the singing so-so. Just seemed like lots of missed opportunities to put on a good show.

from Columbus, Ohio

EH

This was ok. The actor who plays Tevye was clearly just repeating memorized lines with very little emotion. “If I were a rich man” was a huge let down, as well. He just really seemed so bored and sick of this. No feeling. Most of the actors gave off the same vibe…hurry up, we have to do this again, etc. It really took away from the show. Overall there was no feeling as the lines were being delivered. On a more pleasant note, The actors who played Perchik and Motel were excellent.

from Omaha, Nebraska

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

Not normally a critic, I felt last night’s performance, Thursday, 10 February, had one major flaw. My husband and I were sitting on the north side of the stage in row three and could not hear what the actors and actresses were saying or singing. Perhaps the sound system was not working well, but I’ve been to other shows (season ticket holders) and could see and hear that the actors and actresses were not projecting their voices very well. I thought maybe it was just me that felt this way, but I was talking to a volunteer during the break, and three people walked by and said are you talking about not being able to hear what’s going on, and I said yes. They agreed and said it was a disappointment. So I don’t know if the problem was in the whole theater area or just down on the floor area. Try to imagine that you can’t hear the words. It ruined the whole play for the two of us, and we do not have hearing problems.

L. Kakish from Birmingham, AL

DISAPPOINTED

After seeing the show in NYC I was so looking forward to the show in Birmingham,AL. I purchased 9 tickets and invited family and friends expecting a great performance based on my previous experience. The show was very underwhelming from cast to voices to sound and talent. There was no heart and mediocre performers. It seemed more like a high school level performance. A total waste of time and money!

Scott J from Richmond, Virginia

DISAPPOINTING

Absolutely lacked the vitality that the audience deserved. It actually was my worst experience at Altria. Perhaps spoiled by my wife's 1967 experience on Broadway with Mostel and mine some years later with the epic film, we left the theater feeling actually abused by a pack of players who really could care less. At no point did we feel emotionally engaged. The actor playing the lead Tevye offered little in the way of 'relish' as he barely moved his arms when the broader expression was so required in the father's dance scenes...... So sad, they should be ashamed.

Mary DiCola from Chicago, Illinois

AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

I've never been disappointed previously at a Chicago theater performance. However, Fiddler on the Roof changed a run of excellent theater experiences last night! I was expecting someone to come out of the curtains at the end and announce that we had been duped! Rather than professional actors, we were actually subjected to a High School performance, and the theater would be refunding our ticket money! Every time Golde and Yente performed, I winced in embarrassment! The play was ridden with over-acting, simply, bad acting, and horrible accents, (Was this a bad imitation of an East Coast, diner waitress?) Most of the characters sounded as if they were reading directly from...no "Yelling" the script! Save your money! Go see a good High School performance!

Eric Kubiak from Tempe, Arizona

LET DOWN OF A BROADWAY TOUR SHOW

I’d like to start off with, Fiddler is an iconic piece of theater. The score is so great it stands up with haunting melodies years later. I was very excited that it would tour after the revival on broadway, just like Hello Dolly. While the later was an amazing tour that one has not witnessed in years, Fiddler was a total let down. This production was so cut back, that bare bones does not do it justice. The set so minimal that there was no way to portray the Fiddler on the Roof. The cast was miserable. There was no connection between the actors in a show that is portraying love against all odds. It’s descent into sub par performances began with Teyve. An actor of Israeli descent, I found lack of effort to become a character from a time long ago very disappointing. It’s rare that I cannot say one item that gave the show redeeming quality, but alas no. For once, I wished I was at home and not wasted my evening with a production that did not embrace an ounce of “Tradition” to make it acceptable.

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