Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 2004)
BY SHARLEEN NELSON Review Tradition! Fiddler on the Roof is summer fare for the entire family. L CC presents its Lane Summer Musical Theatre production of Fiddler On the Roof, the classic stage musical based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem. Set in 1905 on the eve of the Russian rev- olution in the small Jewish village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, the milkman, and his attempts to preserve his family’s traditions. Without tradition, Tevye explains, he and the villagers would find their exquisite attention to detail. Leading the talented cast is Al Villaneuva, whose performance as the conflicted papa Tevye is first rate. Although his solos were a bit difficult to hear at times, Villaneuva’s vocal dexterity is notably strong in other pieces. Peg Major is delightful as Tevye’s no- nonsense wife Golde. Major and Villaneuva perform superbly together in the stirring duet “Do You Love Me?” Megan Morrisson puts in a fine perform- Te v ye mu st c ho os e be tw e en hi s o wn da u gh te r’ s h ap pi n e s s a nd t he p a ra di gm s t ha t h av e s ha p ed t he f ou nd a ti o n of th e ir li ve s . lives “as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.” But when his eldest daughter, Tzeitel, begs him to let her marry a poor tailor rather than the mid- dle-aged butcher that the village “match- maker” has chosen for her, Tevye must choose between his own daughter’s happiness and the paradigms that have shaped the foundation of their lives. In turn, what is good for one daughter expands to his other daughters, who also desire to marry for love. Meanwhile, the winds of revolution are swirling at the doorstep and Tevye must not only come to terms with the changing dy- namic of his own family, but also that of out- side forces, which threaten to disrupt much more than simple tradition. Employing a surrealistic and aesthetically ap- pealing set that utilizes minimal props to direct the focus primarily on the characters, music, and the story itself, the production features a com- plete orchestra, under the accomplished baton of Ron Bertucci; energized choreographed dance numbers; and fantastic costumes designed with ance as Tzeitel, the oldest daughter who mar- ries the awkward and stammering tailor Motel, played with comedic flair by Curtis N. Buell. Juliet Strong’s background in vocal performance is apparent in her role as Tevye’s second daughter Hodel. Her lucid, melodic voice resonates opposite John Eaton’s (Perchik) in the duet “Now I have Everything.” Jackie Stollar is aptly cast as the bookish Chava, who disobeys her father by marrying outside her religion to young Fyedka, played by Chris Carwithen. Marti Stevens Byers is hilarious as the kvetching Matchmaker Yente, which in Yiddish means “a busybody; a gossip,” and Kim Donahey’s “aerial” dream sequence performance as the butcher’s deceased wife Fruma Sarah is a showstopper. Indeed, everyone involved in this fine production merits praise. A heartwarming story and a cornucopia of familiar songs guaranteed to stick in your head long after the curtain falls make Fiddler On the Roof splen- did summer fare for the entire family. ew ON SALE NOW! WELCOMES Raising the Standard in Aesthetics • Skin Care including Ultrasonic Facial (a topical alternative to Botox) Cleansing, Acne, Anti-Aging • Waxing • Makeup • Permanent Cosmetics Call 344-7789 Services by students are discounted! NW Aesthetics • 2371 Oakmont Way • www.estheticnw.com writers: T H E MY GIRL JUST MY IMAGINATION AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU GET READY do you just wanna rock? WRITE MUSIC REVIEWS FOR EUGENE WEEKLY! We are now accepting submissions of CD reviews by local writers. What’s in it for you? You’ll just do it for the glory . . . (These are unpaid reviews, but you’ll get to see your work in print!) What’s in it for us? We’ll boost our music coverage and get rockin’ reviews from the experts (that would be YOU) who know what’s really happening in the music world. Reviews should be between 100 and 200 words, on any musi- cal genre, and should be emailed to cal@eugeneweekly.com under the subject heading: “Local CD Review.” Please include complete information about the CD, including band name, album name, year and record label, contact information so we can reach you, as well as a short bio about yourself. For addi- tional guidelines and information, contact Jacquelyn at Eugene Weekly: 484-0519, Ext. 26 T H E I CAN’T HELP MYSELF SAME OLD SONG BERNADETTE AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT) I’LL BE THERE STANDING IN THE SHAEDOWS OF LOVE Backed by a 15-piece orchestra FRIDAY JULY 23 • 7:30 PM CUTHBERT AMPHITHEATRE, EUGENE TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT HULT CENTER TICKET OFFICE, U OF O TICKET OFFICE AT THE EMU CHARGE-BY-PHONE: (541) 682-5000 BUY ONLINE: www.hultcenter.org JULY 22, 2004 27
