'Fiddler on the Roof' review – this magical, immersive musical production supplies both joy and pathos

Read our review of Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Jordan Fein, now in performances at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to 21 September.

It seems fitting that the final show of Timothy Sheader’s Open Air Theatre reign, Fiddler on the Roof, is a musical. It’s a genre he’s championed since taking over the previously Shakespeare-centric venue almost two decades ago.

The story, set in the fictional Russian village of Anatevka, places domestic drama – Jewish milkman Tevye dealing with the radical ambitions of three of his daughters to marry for love – against the backdrop of forced expulsions of Jewish shtetls. He is aware that the balance of their lives is as precarious as a fiddler perched on a roof.

In an excellent cast, Adam Dannheisser is captivating as Tevye: likeable, funny and warm. He also has a lovely chemistry with Lara Pulver as a pragmatic and stoic Golde. Their beautiful rendition of “Do You Love Me?” movingly demonstrates the profound connections of a long marriage.

Liv Andrusier makes eldest daughter Tzeitel feel fully rounded. She also shows huge versatility in her vocal range during “Teyve’s Dream”, hilariously evoking the characters of Fruma Sarah and Grandma Tzeitel. Georgia Bruce is suitably headstrong as Hodel and Hannah Bristow makes the most of underdeveloped character Chava. The three have a very convincing sisterly connection, particularly in their thoughtful rendition of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”.

Beverley Klein is great fun as gossipy matchmaker Yente. Dan Wolff is not the strongest singer, but is incredibly endearing as shy tailor Motel. Daniel Krickler is outspoken and idealistic as Marxist student Perchik.

The onstage band brim with energy, occasionally sounding a little loud. Special mention must go to Raphael Papo, the ever-present fiddler, who brings exquisite delicacy and emotion to his music. His duets with a poignant clarinet-playing Bristow are particularly powerful.

Director Jordan Fein raised more than a few eyebrows with his recent, radical interpretation of Oklahoma!, but here stays fairly faithful to the original production. He manages to bolster all the joy, humour and sense of community, thten brings us back down to earth as the insidious creep of antisemitism destroys the integral fabric of this society. The contrast is stark and very affecting.

Tom Scutt creates a simple, rustic set with a wheat-covered roof peeling back from the landscape. It works beautifully as the surrounding park blends into the design, and hearing “Sunrise/Sunset” as the sun actually sets is pretty magical.

Julia Cheng’s clever choreography brims with vibrancy, particularly during the dream and wedding scenes, the latter paying homage to Jerome Robbins’s original work with the bottle dance.

Fiddler on the Roof was chosen as part of the theatre’s season before the horrific events of 7 October. What with the ongoing situation in Ukraine, our own civil unrest, and reports that security at the theatre has been increased, it would be obvious to create an overtly political take on the play.

But Fein sensibly avoids gimmicks and allows the musical to say what it has always said: prejudice and a sense that people are ‘other’ will inevitably provoke violence and the displacement of innocent people. In this way, this wonderfully immersive Fiddler is more relevant than ever.

Fiddler on the Roof is at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre through 21 September. Book Fiddler on the Roof tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Fiddler on the Roof (Photos by Marc Brenner)