THE PLAY: This classic musical introduces the Jewish inhabitants of a small Russian village in 1905. A hard-working Tevye faces the challenges poverty and maintaining his sacred traditions, while of marrying off his daughters. The first act is upbeat, while the second gets serious.
THE PRODUCTION: Frankly, I wasn’t looking forward to sitting thru another production of this chestnut. But I was wrong, very pleasantly surprised and immensely entertained! Under the direction of Richard M. Parison, Jr. almost every moment is marvelous. His staging (along with the Jerome-Robbins-inspired choreography by Karen Getz) is beautiful, magical and sometimes moving. Highlights include the rousing “To Life,” a flashy “Tevye’s Dream” and the whole of “Sunrise, Sunset” and the wedding dance that follows. As Tevye, David Benoit commands the stage with charisma, comic joy and dramatic power. Almost the entire company is exceptional with standout solos from Brittany D. Simmons and Matt Zimmerman. All of the superb technical elements combine to create beautiful pictures (maybe a little less smoke).
THE POINT: An exceptional theatrical experience. One of the most impressive musicals I’ve ever seen on a Richmond stage.
