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Excellent cast bring fresh air to story of Russian community stuck

0 Comments | Western Morning News, The, Jul 13, 2010 | by Denis Wilkins

REVIEW FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Sterts Theatre, Upton Cross, near Liskeard In life, it is said that unless dealing with vending machines, “change is inevitable”.

In Sholom Aleichem’s Fiddler On The Roof, big changes are certainly inevitable, but as yet unrecognised by the Jewish community in the pre-revolution Russian village of Anatevka.

Out of context, the popular songs If I Was A Rich Man and Matchmaker, Matchmaker give no clue that this is an engaging commentary on the futility of clinging to outmoded tradition. In the context of the narrative, however, they are both funny and moving.

So how did the Sterts Company do? The piece opens with a fiddler playing a lament on an imaginary roof. Enter our hero, Tevye, a milkman and the embodiment of all that is traditional. Played by Mark Tame, it was a terrific performance.

Mark is well known on the local musical circuit and although an amateur is easily as good as, and actually surpasses, many professionals to have tackled this role. His acting, singing and stage craft were quite simply exceptional and it is worth going to see this show just to see him.

Mark Tame was complemented by excellent performances from his stage family, particularly Glenda Ellis as his wife Golde. Daughters (Evie Hidderley, Llona Reese and Lyndsey Robson) and their emotional entanglements portray the challenges to the status quo and were each well played.

If I were to single out another performance it would be that of Llona Reese as Hodel, Tevye’s second daughter