By Jason Clevett
Although shows like The Lion King and Spamalot have graced our stages in recent years, many classic shows such as Annie and A Chorus Line have also packed auditoriums as part of Broadway Across Canada. This trend continues with the 1964 classic Fiddler on the Roof playing in Calgary from January 13th to 17th and Edmonton January 19th to 24th.
Fiddler on the Roof is set in 1905 Russia and is based on the story Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem. The story centres on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters—each one’s choice of husband moves farther away from the customs of her faith—and with the decree of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village. The show held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years until upended by Grease.
Gay actor Sean Patrick Doyle makes history himself in this production as he portrays the ghost of Lazar Wolf’s deceased wife Fruma-Sarah - the first male to portray the character. Doyle leaves the production after the Calgary show.
“While I am in drag, it is so highly stylized. Instead of looking like a traditional queen I look more like a Disney villainess. The character is intimidating because you do have a lot of freedom. The image of her is not a true-to-life image, it is one that is fabricated. Realism doesn’t come into play at all. I am playing the scariest version of this woman that was invented by Tevia. It is a little far out but a lot of fun.”
We caught up with Doyle in Toronto in the midst of a five week run. The Miami-based actor is enjoying being on tour, but certainly not the weather.
“I wish it wasn’t so cold. I do think Toronto is lovely. We have been fortunate enough to have sit downs for many major markets for a few weeks, so I do feel like I have gotten to know my way around the city and the layout of places. We always joke that we are in the best places in summer and worst in winter. The winter schedule is always like Minneapolis and Calgary and Detroit, and the summer schedule is California, Texas and Florida.”
The appeal of shows like Fiddler on the Roof and West Side Story is enduring.
“Audience reaction speaks for itself. The material is timeless. There is something that everyone can relate to in these stories. This story is about a very specific group of people - a poor Jewish family in turn of the century Russia, a very specific niche community to be making a story about. At its heart, Fiddler on the Roof is about an everyday man who is dealing with common family issues, the loss of a daughter and changes in tradition he has known his entire life. Every single father, and every person in the audience can relate to it and that is the difference.”
Doyle feels that every single person should see it in their lifetime. “As far as book musicals are concerned I consider it one of the top five musicals ever written. It is very integrated, the songs help move it along. We restage all of Jerome Robbins original choreography which is also celebrated as one of the most integrated pieces of choreographic movement in the musical theatre cannon. Everything you see enhances the story. In my opinion (Sheldon) Harnick and (Jerry) Bock are two of the most underrated and talented lyricist teams that ever lived.”
