Review of Fiddler on the Roof at The Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 2016-10-04
Our rating:
Fun and exuberant in parts as well as poignant and thought provoking as the Jews are forced to flee their homes, this is an excellently crafted show and one which belies the amateur status of the group.
Fiddler on the Roof by Bloc Productions is being performed at The Bristol Hippodrome from 4-8 October 2016. 365Bristol sent our theatre reviewer Sarah-Jane Howard along to see what she thought - read her 4 star review below.
Persecuted people driven from their own lands by a repressive regime search for a better life for themselves and their children. This is not the latest news bulletin on the plight of Middle Eastern refugees but is instead the story underpinning the hugely popular and inspiring musical Fiddler on the Roof, which is showing at Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 8th October 2016.
This vibrant telling of the still politically and socially relevant tale is brought to the stage by BLOC Productions; an award winning Bristol based amateur theatre group with a history dating back over 80 years. The only amateur group to regularly perform at the Hippodrome, they set themselves a huge challenge each year by staging a musical to rival the myriad of professional shows that grace the stage.
Tickets available online here - shows at 7.30pm from 4-8 October and additional matinee shows on Wednesday and Saturday 8th at 2.30pm.
Featuring the well-known and loved songs Matchmaker, Sunrise Sunset and If I Were a Rich Man this delightful production directed by Alex Turasiewicz showcases the talents of local performers to the full. It tells the story of Tevye, a poor dairyman and father to five daughters who attempts to hold on to his deeply rooted Jewish religious and cultural traditions as the demands of society begin to encroach on the family’s lives.
The Tsar has decreed all Jews must be evicted from their village and left to wander, while Tevye’s eldest 3 daughters choose to eschew the services of village matchmaker Yente and select husbands for themselves based on love. Tevye is left questioning his faith as well as pondering the vagaries of human nature.
As Tevye, Simon Vardakis puts in a fine performance. A competent singer and actor he shows the character’s indomitable will and unbreakable spirit often hidden under self-deprecating humour, he makes you realise this is a good, dependable man who will make the most of his lot and strive to do his best for his family.
A rather lengthy story (3 hours including 20 minute interval), the narrative did tend to drag a little in the first act, only really coming alive during the dream sequence where Tevye supposedly talks to spirits of those departed. Vardakis embodies the wise cracking character, bringing a cheeky humour to the piece and really drawing the audience in. He is assisted by some fabulous lighting, beautiful work by the ensemble and a memorable performance by Geraldine Gregory as Fruma-Sarah, the ghostly figure flying across the stage thanks to some rather nifty wire work.
Playing Tevye’s wife Golde, Lucy Pope gives an understated and restrained performance. She brings a moving, beleaguered quality to this character who is worn down with worry over her daughters as well as despairing of her husband’s willingness to understand the temperament of the young and the need for tradition to evolve.
This is a beautifully constructed piece of theatre, with some energetic and dynamic performances from the entire cast and ensemble; including an enthusiastic and very lively dance by a group of athletic Cossacks. Fun and exuberant in parts as well as poignant and thought provoking as the Jews are forced to flee their homes, this is an excellently crafted show and one which belies the amateur status of the group.
4/5
Tickets range from £15.90 to £31.90 including booking fee - purchase online here.
Article by:
Sarah-Jane is an aficionado of film, theatre, culture and the arts. A voracious reader and avid crafter, she can be found volunteering her face painting talents at Bristol Zoo when she's not cementing her reputation as Coalpit Heath’s cake maker extraordinaire. Known to have an opinion on everything she’s never happier than when sharing these with the good folk of Bristol!
