‘Fiddler’ Marks 35 Years of Happily Ever After

He’s up there sawing away on his violin again, intermittently even in sync with the real violinist in the pit. He’s been doing it for 3 1/2 decades, and it looks as though he’ll keep it up through eternity.

Many musicals are getting to be like operas, revived frequently and filling theaters as though they’d just opened. Sometimes it’s worth the effort, especially in the case of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s “Fiddler on the Roof,” which played at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts this past weekend as part of the show’s 35th anniversary tour.

“Fiddler” is still a charmer, but there are no surprises here, as you might find in a new “Madama Butterfly” or “La Traviata.” Director-choreographer Sammy Dallas Bayes has duplicated Jerome Robbins’ original choreography and direction, and it looks pretty much as it did in 1964, albeit a bit pale by comparison, and much smaller.

The sparkplug in the show, as always, is Tevye, the father, played in this version by John Preece, who understudied Theodore Bikel during the 30th anniversary tour.

Preece is a warm, loving patriarch, not as starchy as Tevye is sometimes interpreted, and his rich voice is just right for the music. He’s played the role 1,000 times to date, with the result that his performance seems a little slick and some of his shtick looks automatic, but he rises above the routine many times during the show.

The brightest lights in this revival are Michael Herschberg’s Motel, the young tailor who woos and wins Tevye’s oldest daughter, Tzeitel. Juliana Stefanov as Tzeitel, and Ginger E. Merritt and Christina Hobbs as two of her younger sisters sing all the tunes with sparkle and freshness; their buoyant approach works beautifully.

Catherine Handy as Tevye’s wife, Golde, and Nancy Ward as the matchmaker Yente are less impressive and look like tour production performers. Edward C. Stallsworth and Ryan Black as the student and Russian soldier who win Tzeitel’s sisters are stalwart and handle their chores brightly and with winning sincerity.

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“Fiddler on the Roof,” Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive. Closed. Running time: 3 hours.

John Preece: Tevye

Catherine Handy: Golde

Juliana Stefanov: Tzeitel

Ginger E. Merritt: Hodel

Christina Hobbs: Chava

Nancy Ward: Yente

Michael Herschberg: Motel

Edward C. Stallsworth: Perchik

Ryan Black: Fyedka

A Jeriko Entertainment, the Young Group and Baci & Sunset Attractions revival of the Joseph Stein-Jerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick musical. Original direction and choreography reproduced by Sammy Dallas Bayes. Scenic design: Mark Morton. Lighting design: Justin W. Freeman. Costume design: Michael Bottari/Ron Case. Sound design: Bruce Yauger/Cowboy Mayers. Musical direction: Denes Van Parys. Production stage manager: Ron Guarnieri.