Date: Fri 16-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: CHRISL

Illustration: C

Location: A10

Quick Words:

Fiddler-Barlow-rev-Redding

Full Text:

(rev "Fiddler on the Roof" @Barlow Summer Theatre, 8/16/96)

Theatre Review-

Bravos All Around For Barlow Summer Theatre

(with photo)

By June April

REDDING - The fiddle is stilled, but the strains of Barlow Summer Theatre's

first production have been successfully played. There were full houses the

first two nights, August 8 and 9, and good turnouts for the second two

performances, August 10-11 Although the final (dollar) totals have yet to be

counted, certainly the enthusiasm of the audiences, cast and parents marks

this production of Fiddler on the Roof a real triumph.

The musical, with a multitudinous-sized cast, had all the earmarks of a

Broadway production. The creative sets by Andrew Knapp were on a par with some

of the better Fiddler sets seen in various theatres, both locally and in New

York.

Using painted scenes and symbols as wall hangings to cover less aesthetically

pleasing areas on the Joel Barlow auditorium walls, Mr Knapp achieved the

effect of "carrying" the set into the audience. Since the flow of the cast was

sometimes in the aisles and off-stage, the continuity of the set design with

the action of the play was especially creative.

The musical numbers proved to be the strength of the show, and the better side

(and sound) of some of the actors. Playing the role of Tevye, the

philosophical milkman of Anatevka, Fitz Harris was at his best pondering,

singing or dancing. Unfortunately, a Jewish accent was not what came from his

lips. Motel, played by Seth Fradkoff, and Brooke Kleinman, who played Tzeitel,

had the closest flavor to the "shtetl" folk.

Commendations are strongly deserved by the musical director and conductor,

David Wicks, Jr. With the range of voices, ages and skills of the seventy-plus

cast, the results are impressive. Vocal director Alice Myers is also to be

praised for the same reasons.

Without much financial support from the community, the determined production

staff and cast (in spite of the odds) managed to pull off a captivating

evening of entertainment looking first class. It is appropriate to add that a

very generous contribution came from New Pond Farm, from a special fund set up

as a living tribute to the actress and benefactor, Carmen Mathews.

The costumes, especially of Fruma-Sarah the (deceased) butcher's wife, were

wonderful, and tastefully reflected the time and place of Fiddler as well as

any production of Fiddler on the Roof this reviewer has ever seen. The three

ladies who did the make-up are also to be applauded for a fine job.

Five weeks to pull together a production of this magnitude is quite an

accomplishment and to this end kudos go to the producers Sabrina Post

(juggling it all with her recently born twins), George Vollano and Andrew

Knapp.

The choreographed routines by Mr Vollano wisely used the maximum numbers of

the cast and were astutely devised so the dance numbers looked quite

professional.

There is a call for another Summer Barlow Theatre in 1997. Now that people

have seen what these talented producers can do, the joy of the production and

the sharing of it all, the next opportunity should be richly funded and

heavily attended. There is even consideration already for a longer run for

next summer's show.