STAGE REVIEWS : Fullerton CLO’s ‘Fiddler’ Honors Comic Tradition

“Fiddler on the Roof” opens with one of the most brilliantproduction numbers ever to raise a curtain on the musical comedy stage: “Tradition.” In this irresistibly rousing choral extravaganza, composer Jerry Boch and librettist Sheldon Harnick introduce an entire community, summing up its laws and relationships and laying the framework for the drama that will unfold--the story of Tevye, the simple milkman and his not-so-simple life.

“Fiddler” has become a tradition in its own right, a staple of musical-comedy troupes since its 1964 premiere in New York. The current production by Fullerton Civic Light Opera is its third, and director Jan Duncan’s energetic staging is enjoyable, though lightweight.

Superficially, “Fiddler” is a funny tale about poor man with a wry sense of humor and his three independent-minded daughters. And on this level, the production is very successful. The singing is strong, the laughs are clean, the original choreography reproduced by Sha Newman is zippy and flavorful, and, as usual, the company is greatly blessed to have an accomplished live orchestra under the artful direction of Lee Kreter.

Fundamentally, though, “Fiddler” is a story about Tevye’s struggle to live a moral life in the face of hardship and revolutionary social change. Many details that would have added immeasurably to the authenticity of that struggle are neglected.

The most egregious oversight is Duncan’s handling of the symbol of the fiddler on the roof, an inexpert performance by Randy Lee Hendler, whose miming of the violin solo doesn’t even come close to matching the music coming from the orchestra pit.

Still, even without authentic underpinnings, Tevye’s troubles make an entertaining yarn, spiced with the evocative, economical humor of Joseph Stein’s script. As Tevye, Gary Gordon is a tenderhearted father with a wide-eyed comic expressiveness and a fine, solid singing voice. He never achieves the soulfulness of a man who talks to God as an intimate, but his palpable affection for his girls makes for some moving farewells, particularly with Chava, played with straightforward womanliness by Connie Frady.

Sarah Uriarte, with her soaring voice, makes a lovely Hodel, and Amy Greenberg’s no-nonsense Tzeitel has some wonderful undertones that hint at the influences of her mama, Golde, an iron-willed, overworked matron portrayed with earthy strength by Andrea Goldin-Frumes.

Cliff Senior brings a sweet presence to Motel, the tailor, and David Corbin and Vernon Willet make attractive and manly suitors as Perchik and Fyedka.

The fullest performance of the evening is Helen Geller’s, as Yenta, the matchmaker. Geller’s face is a map of experience. Her Yenta is a woman who has known joy as well as sorrow, and she’d be only mildly inconvenienced to sit down and tell you all about it over a pot of tea and as many cookies as she can load in her apron.

‘Fiddler on the Roof’

A Fullerton Civic Light Opera production of the musical by Jerry Bock (music), Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) and Joseph Stein (book). Directed by Jan Duncan. With Gary Gordon, Andrea Goldin-Frumes, Amy Greenberg, Sarah Uriarte, Connie Frady, Missy Kay, Angelique Batsel, Helen Geller, Cliff Senior, David Corbin, Joe Kaye, Richard Comeau, Bob May, Richard DeVicariis, Jamie Snyder, James Oxley, Ann Russell, Bob Goodwin, Vernon Willet, Glenn Shiroma, Greg Ricks, Alfred Ronquillo, Carol Gustafson, Marc Marger, Randy Lee Hendler, David Monge, Grant Rosen, Glenn Sabalza, Maggie Newman, David Booth, Nicholas Wheat, Steve Chapin, Jason Bailly, Kim Arnett, Bonnie Moran, Rhea Roberts, Karen Vanden Broek, Melissa Lyns, Briana Winter, Torb Pedersen, Jill Niemela, Karen Smith, Erik Koehler and Shanon Makor Prum(.

Musical director and conductor: Lee Kreter. Original choreography reproduced by Sha Newman. Lighting design: Donna Ruzika. Costume design: Edith Melcher. Set design: Spectrum Design Studios. At the Pacific Auditorium, 2500 E. Nutwood Ave., Fullerton. Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Matinees on Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m., Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Through Nov. 1. $19-$24. (714) 879-1732.