Fiddler On The Roof (from Scene South)

FOR me the sign of a good musical is when you are still humming the songs the following morning. And after watching the first night's performance of the classic Fiddler on the Roof at Bournemouth's Pavilion Theatre it's fair to say my work colleagues may be getting annoyed with my limited rendition of the musical's signature tune Tradition.

Fiddler on the Roof is one of those plays I had been eager to watch for years but had never had the opportunity to see.But I'm glad I did,as it was a cracking performance with high-energy dance choreography and some belting renditions of the musical's favourite songs.

Based in the Jewish village of Czarist,Russian dairyman Tevye (Joe McGann,pictured left) is doing his best to preserve his religion's traditions in the face of a changing world. But when his daughters refuse the matchmaker's advice and marry for love,Tevye must choose between their happiness and those beloved traditions.

McGann's performance as Tevye made the show one to remember and he had the audience laughing in all the right spots as he cowered in fear from his loud and domineering wife Golde (Carrie Ellis). The best part was the rousing and visually stunning Anatevka dance scene at Tevye's barn.

Watching the male actors balance wine bottles on their heads while completing a complex,leg-kicking,arm-inarm dance impressed the socks off me.Motel the Tailor (Tommy Sherlock) had the audience laughing out loud as he shouted at Tevye to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage.His shaking and subsequent bellowing at his future father-in-law had me in stitches.

This is a great production, with a wonderfully strong cast which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are some excellent individual performances, but the whole show is held together by the wonderful Joe McGann. I've seen this show 6 times now and will be going back before the tour is finished. An excellent evening's entertainment!

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