Alison and I decided, rather last minute, that we had to see the last show of Fiddler at Stratford. 🙂
 from across the Avon River |
Of course it was sold out by then, but we knew they had rush seats, so we got up early that day and made the drive down to the Festival Theatre. We obviously weren’t the only people with the same idea – there were about 15 people already in line. After a few hours of waiting and stressing, we finally got seats, and were ready for the show.
At least, we thought we were ready. I don’t know if we could have really been prepared for what a unique experience it would be. The energy in the theatre was incredible. I’ve been to a few closing shows before, and there’s really just a special feeling in the air. The cast, of course, went all out, and the audience responded in equal measure. I won’t go over the whole show again, because it was pretty much the same as in June, but at the end, the whole crowd leapt to its feet and applauded, and kept applauding long after the actors had left the stage. Nobody wanted to leave, or wanted it to be over. It was amazing.
They must have made a recording of the show, and I really hope they release it some time – this was a production that needs to be shared with the world.
“Wow, even your back side looks great!”
A woman in the rush line to me – *totally* not what it sounds like! 🙂
The cast: (in order of appearance)
Tevye, the dairyman |
BRENT CARVER |
Golde, his wife |
BARBARA BARSKY |
Tzeitel, his daughter |
ROBIN HUTTON |
Hodel, his daughter |
TRACY MICHAILIDIS |
Chava, his daughter |
AMY WALSH |
Shprintze, his daughter |
JENNIFER WAISER |
Bielke, his daughter |
EMILIA DALLMAN HOWLEY |
Yente, the matchmaker |
THERESA TOVA |
Motel, the tailor |
MICHAEL THERRIAULT |
Perchik, the student |
FRED LOVE |
Lazar Wolf, the butcher |
GEORGE MASSWOHL |
Mordcha, the innkeeper |
MICHAEL FAWKES |
Rabbi |
KEITH DINICOL |
Mendel, his son |
GERALD ISAAC |
Avrahm, the bookseller |
STEVE ROSS |
Nachum, the beggar |
BRUCE DOW |
Grandma Tzeitel |
CHRISTINA GORDON |
Fruma-Sarah |
BARBARA FULTON |
Constable |
CRAIG ASHTON |
Fyedka |
JONATHAN GOAD |
Shaindel, Motel’s mother |
KAREN SKIDMORE |
Bluma |
BARBARA FULTON |
Rifka |
CHRISTINA GORDON |
Rachel |
MICHELE GRAFF |
Simka |
LISA HORNER |
Shimone, the bagelseller |
PAUL GUITARD |
Yussel, the hatmaker |
SAM STRASFELD |
Duvidel |
KIRK HANSEN |
Moishe |
ERIC ROBERTSON |
Yakov |
STEPHEN COTA |
Chaim |
STEPHEN LILLY |
Hershel |
JAKE ELLIOT |
Itzak |
AIDAN KEELEY |
The Fiddler |
PHILLIP HUGHES |