Reston Community Players’ production of Fiddler on the Roof is a vibrant and heartfelt rendition of the beloved classic. Director Christine Maxted collaborated with her creative team of Music Director Steve McBride, Choreographer Philip Smith-Cobbs, Stage Manager Kaiti Parish, and more to create a production with a poignant blend of humor, heartache, and tradition.
Set in early 20th-century Russia, Fiddler on the Roof follows Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman in the small village of Anatevka. Balancing tradition and change, Tevye grapples with his daughters’ desires to marry for love rather than follow the practice of arranged marriages. As the family faces increasing pressures from outside forces, Tevye must navigate his faith, family, and the ever-changing world around him.
The story begins with one of the strongest opening numbers in musical theater: “Tradition.” Leading the cast is Steve Cairns as Tevye, immediately establishing a relationship with the audience and conversing with God throughout. His portrayal was friendly and vulnerable, showcasing a wholesome masculinity that can often be found in fathers of daughters. His softness is juxtaposed with his decisive and devoted wife, Golde, portrayed by Melanie Rider. Rider’s vocal warmth and dry humor are a wonderful complement to Tevye’s jovial nature, particularly in “Do You Love Me” and “Sunrise, Sunset.” In Act 2, Cairns and Rider do a magnificent job portraying their heartbreak within their traditional roles, grappling with tradition but overwhelmed with love and sadness for their daughter.
Daughters Tzeitel, Hodel, Chava, Shprintze, and Bielke are charming and spirited when we first meet them in the opening number. After a comical visit from the village matchmaker Yente portrayed by Kate Keifer, daughters Hodel and Chava, played by McKinley Seale and Abigail Atwater respectively, begin to daydream about their ideal matches. I really enjoyed the performances from Seale and Atwater as they showcased their beautiful voices and playful banter in “Matchmaker” before they were interrupted by Tzeitel, played by Rachel Donders, pretending to be Yente to bring them back to reality.
The vocal power from the men of Anatevka was outstanding, in particular Motel played by Thomas Wilson and Lazar Wolf played by Erik Black. Motel is sheepish and unsure of many things — except his love of Tzeitel! His song, “Miracle of Miracles,” was especially good, showcasing Wilson’s exquisite tenor voice. Another standout is Erik Black as Lazar Wolf. He and Tevye have several comedic conversations followed by boisterous bellowing, most notably in “To Life.” It was a joy to hear such powerful singing from the villagers while they drunkenly danced and celebrated at the Inn.
The music truly shines in this production. The timeless score from Jerry Bock and lyrics from Sheldon Harnick is brought to life through Conductor Matthew Scarborough and his fantastic orchestra. The 13 musicians collectively played over 20 instruments with precision and passion. The titular fiddler (performed in alternating performances by brothers Chet and Lewis Bliss) appears onstage during several poignant scenes, helping to draw attention to the tension between tradition and the precarious nature of change. In particular, “Sabbath Prayer” and the final scene of the production were beautifully staged and very moving.
The set design by Anna Mintz evoked a nostalgic feeling of reading a fable or storybook, with blue hues and visible brush strokes to represent the rustic charm and warmth of Anatevka. The program includes an excerpt from Cultural Advisor Jerry Morse about Jerome Robbins’ inspiration from a painting by Marc Chagall called “The Fiddler.” The full essay can be read at restonplayers.org/pastshows. Reading this article and additional resources by Morse made this production all the more impactful.
On a personal note, every production of Fiddler on the Roof that I see seems to occur during a tumultuous time and this production is no exception. I felt pings of sadness with each connection to a current headline as well as sparks of joy with new connections to past experiences. The emotional weight of the story is universal, prevailing with themes of family, tradition, and resilience and reminding the audience of the enduring struggles faced by a persecuted people.
Reston Community Players’ Fiddler on the Roof is a commendable production that balances the humor and heartbreak of life. The cast, creative team, technical crew, and musicians all delivered a heartfelt performance that invites reflection on the nature of change and the ties that bind us all together.
Running Time: Two hours and 45 minutes, including one intermission.
Fiddler on the Roof plays through November 9, 2024 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm), presented by Reston Community Players, performing at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage, 2310 Colts Neck Road in Reston, VA. For tickets ($25–$30), contact the box office at 703-476-4500 x38 or purchase online. CenterStage is accessible and offers listening devices for the hearing impaired.
Fiddler on the Roof
CAST
Tevye: Steve Cairns
Golde: Melanie Rider
Tzeitel: Rachel Donders
Hodel: McKinley Seale
Chava: Abigail Atwater
Shprintze: Olivia Daugherty
Bielke: Grace Hamer
Yente: Kate Keifer
Motel: Thomas Wilson
Perchik: Christian Rodgers
Lazar Wolf: Erik Black
Mordcha: Jack Dixon
The Rabbi: Larry Finkel
Mendel: Joshua Paul McCreary
Avram: Chris Woidka
Nachum: Andrew Morin
Grandma Tzeitel: Jennifer Levy
Fruma Sarah: Melanie Kurstin
Constable: Anthony Pohl
Fyedka: Jeff Mouritzen
Sasha: Jordan Kazemi
Shaindel: Cathy Gurson
The Fiddler: Chet Bliss and Lewis Bliss
Chaim, the Fishmonger: Alexander Colon
Yussel, the Hatmaker: Kurt Gustafson
Shloime, the Bagel Man: John Norquist
Anya: Jennifer Reynolds
Duvidel, the Seltzer Man: Jordan Kazemi
Vladimir (To Life Soloist): Alexander Colon
MUSICIANS
Conductor: Matt Scarborough
Violin: Rebekah Givens
Cello: Pam Clem
Bass: Jared Creason
Reed 1: Teresa Harris
Reed 2: Justin Baughman
Trumpet 1: Jack Dusek
Trumpet 2: John Paganelli
Trombone: Ben Green
Synth Strings: Joe Faber
Accordion: Aimee Faulkner
Guitar: Robert LaRose
Percussion: Laura Moniuszko
