Musical Mornings: Fiddler On The Roof

Welcome to Musical Mornings! I know there's this huge stigma about musicals, and yes, they are sometimes the definition of tacky, but I think they're highly unappreciated. Here's the first of my list of musical classics that defy expectations.

The 1971 version of 'Fiddler On The Roof' started my obsession with Broadway. This poignant, angry, honest film simply radiates emotion. At the heart of it is Topol, an Israeli actor who (rightfully) won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for this film. He plays a Jewish milkman in pre-revolutionary Russia, struggling to maintain tradition as the world is crumbling around him. 

One of my favorite storylines is that of his relationship with his wife, Golde. Their marriage exemplifies the many facets of Jewish tradition, serving as a fascinating comparison for the three sets of 'modern' romances going on around him. Their functional, if not tempestuous relationship authenticates Topol's desire to set his daughters up in arranged marriages. It worked well for them, didn't it? 


Plus, Norma Crane is hysterical.

There are many deep, nuanced themes in this musical, but I think the best way to describe it is a story of 'letting go'. To Topol's character, it means letting go of his entire way of life- his customs, his daughters, his home. For other characters its slighter, more complicated. But everyone feels it, this urge to fight the inevitable outcome of their lives. Its incredibly easy to relate to, whatever traditions you grew up with.