REVIEW: Perfect Circa ’21 Cast Creates Powerful, Emotional, Urgent New “Fiddler”
The average car is built from roughly 30,000 parts, which all have to fit and work together, to allow you to drive after turning your ignition key. Putting together a musical is similarly complex, to ensure a smooth ride and operation, though it’s both less and more complicated.
The phenomenally powerful, emotional and urgent new production of the popular 1964 musical “Fiddler on the Roof” at Circa ‘21 takes a cast of 19 and a crew of 12 who have worked hard each time to bring this awe-inspiring performance to the Rock Island dinner theater stage. But unlike a motor vehicle (whose parts automatically spring to life the same way every time), a live musical depends on the energy and quality of each performer (while Circa’s pre-recorded musical accompaniment may be the same) who can make different choices every performance.
That is the beauty and thrill of live theater, and in the case of the classic “Fiddler” – as resonant and relevant as ever – even though it’s a well-known, well-worn story, the new production never feels rote or routine. It’s like you’re seeing it for the first time.
Part of “Tevye’s Dream” in the new Circa “Fiddler on the Roof.”
This breathtaking, committed cast brings the 1905-era story of a big, poor Jewish family blazingly to pulsing, stunning, full-throated life. Which is fitting, given one of the boisterous numbers in the iconic show is called “To Life.”
Last done at Circa in 2014, and at Quad City Music Guild in August 2024, the new “Fiddler” is headed by two exceedingly talented stars, Jacob Medich (in his QC debut) as the milkman Tevye, with Circa veteran Sarah Hayes as his devoted wife Golde.
The story (set in 1905 Russia) story centers on Tevye in the fictional village of Anatevka, who attempts to maintain his Jewish traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family’s lives. He must cope with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters who want to marry for love; but their choices of husbands are successively less palatable for Tevye. An edict of the tsar eventually evicts the Jews from their village, reflecting the experience of immigrants worldwide.
Jacob Medich — a veteran of this musical — plays Tevye in his Circa debut of a new “Fiddler on the Roof,” opening Friday, May 1.
The musical captures the essential human longings for love, community, success, freedom, family and meaning. Through its unforgettable score by composer Jerry Bock (the Circa program has a typo, noting his last name as Brook) and lyricist Sheldon Harnick, audiences are treated to such indelible songs as the beautiful “Sunrise, Sunset,” the boisterous “If I Were a Rich Man,” the heartbreaking yet funny marital duet “Do You Love Me?”, the winsome “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and the defiant opening standard, “Tradition.”
The cast dances in the new “Fiddler on the Roof” at Circa ’21.
Tevye is such a dominating, multi-layered role, and it’s clear Medich is in complete control, and captures all the complexities of the character. While poor, Tevye is well-read and deeply religious, and we see his titanic, tortured struggles in both dealing with his wife (who isn’t afraid to stand up to him), and the rebelliousness of his three oldest daughters (he has five total) – Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava – who each choose suitors who may not be the best matches on paper, but Tevye can see each are in love with their man.
Abigail Hart Goldman as Tzeitel, Laura Whittenberger as Hodel and Wrigley Mancha (who’s alternating with Sophia Kilburg) as Chava all sweetly embody the brash independence and affection of the daughters, as well the devotion to their parents. Regardless of the time period or setting, we can all relate to how a child must make a path for themselves apart from their folks. Their “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” is an adorable paean to pleasing parents, while also finding a spouse who will meet their needs, in an era of arranged marriage.
In one of many show highlights, Medich’s solo “I want” song – “If I Were a Rich Man” – shows him very much at ease, confidently luxuriating in his dream.
A scene from a new production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island.
The dazzling direction of first-time Circa helmer Georgette Kleier is revealed throughout, including a gorgeous “Sabbath Prayer,” which features bewitching visuals from lighting designer Nicole Blodig. In addition to candle light on stage in the magical, mesmerizing number, they have two twinkling lights in each window hanging in back, against a purple sky. A similarly reverent effect, with candle-like lights, returns in the “Sunrise, Sunset” wedding scene, and Blodig precisely adjusts the lights each of the many times that Medich is stuck in a bind, where he talks to God about the pros and cons of weighing a challenging choice one of his daughters makes (“On the one hand,” “on the other hand”…).
Jacob Medich is Tevye (right) with the titular fiddler in the new Circa show, running through June 27.
Medich (commanding in the role he’s done now three times in the past year, including dinner theaters in Florida and Pennsylvania) is also expert in adjusting his theatrical lights, in balancing his intense drama with light-hearted humor. We can empathize with his harried spouse/father role, after agreeing to a daughter’s decision to marry outside of tradition, Tevye must confront what he will tell Golde. This is especially apt, after the wild, spectacular “Tevye’s Dream” (featuring the always amazing Sydney Richardson as the imposing Fruma-Sarah), in which Medich relates his nightmare and curse to Hayes, persuading her that Motel is the right match for Tzeitel – Hodel wants to marry the revolutionary, radical Perchik, and Medich wonders if he’ll have to come up with another dream?
As Tevye, his thunderous anger erupts at key points, as he wrestles with these life-altering decisions, and Medich is brought to his breaking point near the show close, as Chava wants to marry outside the faith, to a Russian no less, whose government is causing problems for the Jews. Both Mancha and Medich are heart-wrenchingly effective in that climactic scene.
A scene from a new production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island.
In between, this “Fiddler” is packed with memorable moments, and beloved songs that soar, sting, and are laser-focused straight to our hearts.
After playing Golde in the last Circa version, Shelley Walljasper is ideal as the kvetching matchmaker Yente, and Sarah Hayes picks up with the perfect blend of snark, wisdom, love and sadness as Tevye’s wife and life partner. Their Act II duet “Do You Love Me?” is a poignant ode to defining marriage and the chemistry the two veteran actors share is undeniable.
Circa veteran Bobby Becher shines again as the socialist, anti-rich rabble-rouser Perchik. Among his highlights is when he and Whittenberger look at each other during “Sunrise, Sunset,” and foreshadow their match with, “Is there a canopy in store for me?” Their Act II duet “Now I Have Everything” is lovely, and she makes the most out of the heartbreaking farewell song to her father in the aching “Far From the Home I Love,” which beautifully toggles between minor and major keys.
A scene from a new production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island.
Also excellent are Gregory Naman as the meek, insecure tailor Motel, who finds his spine (his “Miracle of Miracles” is a blissful, exuberant celebration of new love), and Charles Murphy in the smaller, but still key role of the studious Fyedka, among other characters.
The stacked cast includes Dan Embree as the butcher Lazar Wolf (Tzeitel’s original well-off match), with a ridiculously fake white beard; Brad Hauskins as a sympathetic constable who enforces anti-Jewish laws under protest; Harold Truitt as the rabbi, and Kyle DeFauw as Avram.
A scene from a new production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island.
The show (which fires on all cylinders, and includes an actual fiddler who seemingly mimes the violin part) will be presented at Circa ’21 through June 27, with performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday matinées at 1:15 p.m. Preshow entertainment featuring the theatre’s wait staff The Bootleggers will also precede all performances. Ticket prices are $70 for the Friday – Sunday productions and $63 for the Wednesday productions.
Reservations are available through the Circa ’21 ticket office, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, or by calling 309-786-7733 ext. 2. You may also make them online by going to circa21.com.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.