STAGE REVIEW : ‘Fiddler’ Echoes Our Times : Legendary Play Reminds How Love Can Soften Hardship

SAN DIEGO — Even those who’ve memorized all the lines to “Fiddler on the Roof” should enjoy the San Diego Civic Light Opera’s handsome revival at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

And for those new to this 28-year-old Broadway legend, “Fiddler” is about as good as a classic, well-made American musical gets.

The consummate artistry of Harry Goz’s performance as Tevye, the Jewish dairyman, and Sammy Dallas Bay’s faithful recreation of Jerome Robbins’ brilliant direction and choreography bring out the best of this musical.

With the wisdom of hindsight, the success of “Fiddler on the Roof” on every venue from Broadway to community theater to the current, professional San Diego Civic Light Opera offering, seems obvious. The show is funny, witty and warm with a hit-studded score by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock that includes more than a dozen gems, including “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Do You Love Me?” and “Far From the Home I Love.”

But, initially, success might not have seemed so inevitable. A musical about a poor Jewish dairyman and how he deals with the courtships of three of his five daughters? Singing and dancing in a world of pogroms in 1905 Russia where tensions are high between the Jewish and Christian villagers?

The secret of Joseph Stein’s adaptation of Sholem Aleichem stories rested on Tevye, an Everyman to whom everyone can relate. Tevye’s not rich or brilliant; he’s a simple man struggling to make sense of difficult times--getting through his daily crises with humor, compassion and ongoing conversations with God.

The story’s resonances today are also surprisingly moving. Nobody talks about modern-day parallels. But in the edict from the Czar that sends the Jews from Anatevka packing for new lands, one is reminded of the anti-Semitism in modern-day Russia, as well as Europe and the United States. On another note, the story also summons up images of families today, who are being forced to move from their homes because of these financially perilous times.

Harry Goz, who played Tevye for more than 1,000 performances in the original production, creates a Tevye from the inside-out. By giving us a real person instead of shtick--letting the humor come out of character rather than punch lines--he fills the stage with Tevye’s humanity. Goz is well matched with his real-life wife, Maggie Goz, who plays the nagging but devoted Golde, and his real-life daughter, Melissa S. Goz, as Tevye’s eldest, Tzeitel, who is desperately in love with a man neither of her parents wants her to marry.

Beverly Ward, a familiar San Diego Civic Light Opera face, brings a beautiful voice and an innocent fresh-scrubbed look to Tevye’s idealistic second daughter, Hodel. Alexandra Auckland is touching as the third daughter, Chava, who falls in love with a Christian and agonizes over the subsequent alienation of her father. Ira Denmark and James Saba do well as Tzeitel’s suitor, Motel, and Hodel’s suitor, Perchik.

The homespun-style costumes and splintered-wood sets, all of which came from the 1991 Broadway revival, add to the pathos of the story. They persuasively suggest the harshness of the villagers’ lives.

And yet the play, as always, shows how love, family and faith can soften all hardships. It’s a good reminder in today’s tough times.

“FIDDLER ON THE ROOF”

Based on Sholem Aleichem stories. Book by Joseph Stein. Music by Jerry Bock. Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Original Jerome Robbins direction and choreography reproduced by Sammy Dallas Bayes. Lighting by Gregory Allen Hirsch. Musical director/conductor, Glen Clugston. Wigs by Donalee Braden . Stage manager, Elizabeth Stephens. With Harry Goz, Maggie Goz, George Huttenbrauck, Priscilla Allen, Ira Denmark, Michael Hickey, James Saba, Von Schauer, Melissa S. Goz, Beverly Ward and Alexandra Auckland. At 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, with Saturday-Sunday matinees at 2, through Nov. 22. Tickets are $17-$32. At the San Diego Civic Theatre, 202 C St., San Diego, 278-TIXS, 544-STAR or for group sales, 544-7800.