Fiddler on the Roof is playing at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre until 27 December before heading to Perth from 7 January 2027.
Regent Park’s Open Air Theatre critically acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof opened in 2024, where it broke the record for best-selling musical of all time at the Barbican Theatre and winning 3 Olivier Awards including ‘Best Musical Revival’.
Set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905, the story centres on Tevye (Troy Sussman), a loving father and devout Jew, raising five young daughters alongside his wife Golde (Alexis Fishman) in the small village of Anatevka.
When outsiders arrive, Teyve’s faith and traditions are tested when his three eldest daughters – strong-willed Tzeitel (Freya Boltman), open-minded Hodel (Ellen Ebbs) and bookish Chava (Caity Plummer) – decide to choose their own husbands instead of relying on resident matchmaker, Vente (Sigrid Thornton).
I’ve seen Fiddler on the Roof a handful of times with this being the most unique. The biggest difference from previous productions is Tom Scutt’s set design. While the enclosed wheat fields is visually striking, I missed a quaint and charming village set.
The concept of having actors sitting on chairs either side of the stage while awaiting their next scene has never worked for me either, although having Tevye’s milk cart, chair and table props moved in and out as required does help.
However, the floating overheard rig cuts the stage in half, which is a little distracting if you’re seated upstairs. I understand it is lowered at times to create intimacy, at the wedding scene for example, but I wish the set embraced the theatre’s impressive high ceiling more. Though it does look spectacular at the end of Act I alongside Aideen Malone’s dramatic lighting design.
The other bold change that didn’t work for me is the accents. While the older cast sound European, the younger cast using their natural Australian accents baffled me. I don’t mind the occasional slip, but I would have preferred consistency, whether it be all Australian or European. It’s a questionable choice by director Jordan Fein, and one I’d be interested to hear him talk about.
But these are nitpicks as the production overall is otherwise strong.
The standout and most memorable scene is Tevye’s Dream, which is as absurdist in execution as the tall tall itself. Playing into horror tropes while still keeping things playful, Scutt’s costume design is at its best here, topped off by grandma Tzeitel’s exaggerated frame and long fingers. For a musical that has been fairly restrained up until this point, with a lot left to your own imagination, this scene is as over-the-top, surreal, fantastical and unexpected as they come.
Julie Cheng’s choreography is also a highlight especially during To Life and The Wedding. And if you’ve never seen the bottle dance (choreography by Jerome Robbins), you’re in for a treat too.
Having seen the legendary Topol (who starred in the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof after originating the role of Tevye in the West End) in the 2007 Melbourne production as well as my favourite theatre performer Anthony Warlow in 2015, my expectations were set high. However, Sussman shines as Tevye. He channels Topol in many ways but brings a lot of natural charisma to what is a complex and demanding role.
The rest of the cast are faultless, especially the two best-known names on the bill. Thorton (who starred alongside Warlow as Golde in 2015) delights in a smaller yet more playful role, while veteran actor John Waters is charming as widowed butcher Lazar Wolf.
The strength of Fiddler on the Roof has always been its strong writing, accredit to Joseph Stein (book), Jerry Bock (music) and Shelton Harnick (lyrics), and the minimal staging highlights this.
This fresh take on the beloved musical captures its messages of love, faith, family and community which are still as relevant today as it was 62 years during its debut. While not my favourite production I’ve seen, it’s still very, very good.
4/5 STARS
More information and tickets via fiddlerontherooftour.com
