A little strange, but I've been after seeing this since last Christmas, when the film was on TV. Not entirely sure why, because it's not as if I actually watched all the film.
But this was a gift for someone else, so I'm always game for a laugh...
This was the final night of its short run at the Palace Theatre, so they should have got it down by now, at least I'd hope so. I was surprised by how many of the songs from these musical I knew. There is of course 'If I were a rich man' and 'matchmaker, matchmaker', but also 'sunrise sunset' and 'tradition' which were also familiar to me.
Joe McGann, the eldest of the McGann tribe of actors, best know for his role as Charlie in the 'painful', groan-worthy sitcom "The Upper Hand" - a poor mans "Who's the Boss" - played the lead role of Tevye. Although I thought his voice was not up to the singing - he just seemed a little bored - he did a good turn of the humour and the depth of the character. All in all, I did like him.
Perhaps it was the fact he was a high point in a poor production. The entire show stung of, "expense spared". It seemed a little 'low key' for a modern production. Even the show's main track of "if I were a rich man" seemed to struggle, as McGann sang away rather tunelessly, without any background to distract the audience. It seemed a little painful, and made me feel a little embarrassed for him - I know, that's not a nice thing.
Above all the story is a classic. The father trying to find husbands for his three elder daughters, each with their own ideas and choices, while he tries to adhere to the community traditions. And there's not even a happy ending - themes of ethnic cleansing still shockingly relevant today.
At the end of the evening, it was a good night out. But I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it. The highlight of the evening was an early St Paddy's day Guinness. Cheers!!
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Fiddler on the Roof - Manchester Palace Theatre 15th March 2008
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