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Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2379
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 9:02 pm: |     |
This coming Sunday afternoon, my wife & I are going to the Minskoff Theater on West 45th Street, to see Harvey Fierstein in "Fiddler On The Roof". Here's why:
*I saw Zero Mostel as the Original Tevye.
*I saw Herschel Bernardi as the Second Tevye.
*The summer of 1967, between my freshman and sophomore years at college, I played Tevye in Hillel Day Camp's staff production of "Fiddler". I was great.
*My high school and college chum Ellen played opposite me as Golde. I was totally scared and intimidated and sure I'd forget all my lines and step on everybody's cues, but she said, "You'll be great."
*My grandfather had seen Zero's Tevye, and came to Hillel to see me perform. He was ninety-one. He wouldn't believe it was me up there on the stage. My mother kept telling him, but nothing could convince him. He came backstage after the show, saw me taking my makeup off, and began to cry. "You were great!" he said. Okay. So I was great.
*I hated Topol as Tevye (Mawkish.). I refused to see Theodore Bikel as Tevye (Too old. Not a dancer.). I had no interest in seeing Alfred Molina as Tevye (Labelled "aplogetic" by Ben Brantley. And not not even Jewish. What were they thinking?).
*So now I was old enough to play the milkman myself. All's I needed was an Equity card. Gotta say, though, things weren't looking good for Tevye. Without me in the role, who'd bring back the magic?
(BackStory: In late August, 1972, my high school and college chum Ellen was sharing an East Side apartment with a nursing student and a dermatology resident at Cornell, studying speech pathology. They decided to throw a party, and invited lots of their friends. The dermatology resident invited, among others, an incredibly foxy little blonde medical student she knew. The medical student, in turn, invited a good friend of hers, an adorable, very smart, and chronically fatigued medical intern, who drove down from the Bronx in her Toyota Carina so they could attend the party together, as wing-persons.
The party commenced at 7:30. At 8:00, my chum Ellen called me and said, "There are too many women. Would you please come to my party?"
"Ellen", I said, "You know I don't do well at parties. Do I have to?" She said "You'll be great." So I went.
I arrived about 10:00, and immediately made a very smooth pass at an incredibly foxy blonde girl wearing white go-go boots. "Go way, k-veep," she said. She was from Queens. "Okay", I said, and proceded to get very drunk very fast.
An hour or so later, on my way to the john, I sort of made very brief but effective eye contact, I think, with an adorable, tall, wobbly, brunette with wire rims and pigtails. Later, I found myself in one of the bedrooms, and there was this balding guy in an arm sling sitting cross-legged on the floor, droning on about how Transcendental Meditation had helped him recuperate from an open dislocation of the elbow he'd gotten while wrestling an alligator or something. Three bored girls were sitting slumped against the wall, not listening to him. One of them was the pig-tailed brunette, by now almost as drunk as I was. I sat down next to her, listened to the bald guy a moment or two, and leaned over to her, saying, "Why don't we go back to your place, and meditate?" Very smooth. She said she'd have to find her girlfriend and tell her she was leaving, but okay. Ellen was right: I was great.
Later, heading up to her place in the Bronx, I was told by my driver that her wing-person, the go-go girl, had already left with some radiology resident, just like that.
Nineteen months later, I married the brunette with wire rims and pigtails. Ellen couldn't be there. I forget why. We haven't seen each other now in over thirty years.)
Okay. So two months ago, I heard that Harvey Fierstein was going to replace Alfred Molina as Tevye. I read an interview with Harvey where he confessed to being really scared about not being worthy, but was totally committed to doing Zero justice in the role. So I thought, "Harvey gets it. He'll be great."
I located and emailed Ellen, and invited her and her husband Daniel to join my wife and me for the matinee and dinner this coming Sunday. Sort of a delayed "thank you" for her faith in me, back at Hillel and on The East Side.
We'll sit in the Orchestra and sing along on "Do You Love Me" and "Sunrise, Sunset". It'll be great.
-s.
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Angus MacGuyver
Citizen
Username: Macgyver
Post Number: 33
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 9:17 pm: | |
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Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 3807
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 9:29 pm: | |
Soda...generally you make sense..
this doesn't make any..
quote:Labelled "aplogetic" by Ben Brantley. And not not even Jewish. What were they thinking?).
I hope, though cannot tell, you are merely quoting Mr. Brantley and it is completely ridiculous. Alfred Molina may not be Jewish, but that doesn't mean he couldn't play the role. The fact that he did it poorly has nothing, I mean NOTHING to do with his not being a Jew.
And thanks Angus for the delightful commentary. Cute headshot. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2380
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 10:21 pm: | |
"Apologetic" was Brantley's word. The "not even Jewish" was my parenthetical honesty. Part of the character of the piece.
But thanks for sticking up for Alfred, Duncan. (He's not Russian, either, but) I've no interest in discussing Stanislavski with you. The post is what it is. I didn't write it for you. It's for those of us who aren't Equity. Or Brantley. Or hypersensitive neo-artistic suburban culturistas.
For those for whom it was intended: Hope you enjoyed the story. I enjoyed telling it. It's true.
-s.
BTW: On the other hand, Duncan, you made a movie didn't you. So I guess you know what I wanted to say better than I did.
On the other hand...
Bite me. |
Angus MacGuyver
Citizen
Username: Macgyver
Post Number: 36
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 11:52 pm: | |
Anytime Duncan!
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3398
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 11:54 pm: | |
I'm impressed... and yes, I enjoyed the story. I think it's great that you and Ellen are finally getting back together.
So, how did you find her after 30 years? This story reminds me of Linda, I haven't seen her since 1957.
FWIW, I think Harvey gets it too, and he'll be great. Enjoy... "It'll be great." |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1571
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 6:22 am: | |
Soda - loved the story, totally agree about Molina and Fierstein , and am way jealous. But I have to take issue on one point - hubby and I saw Theodor Bikel as Tevye at NJPAC about 3-4 years ago, and he was amazing. |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1572
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 6:23 am: | |
soda the milkman |
jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 1147
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 8:23 am: | |
Loved the story, too, Soda. I have been wanting to see Fierstein as Tevye ever since reading his interview in the Times, but my husband is not interested - I'll probably have to go with a friend. Let us know if he lives up to your expectations. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2397
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 8:58 pm: | |
Debby: I saw Bikel (whom I revere) in a production of "The Chosen" at the Paper Mill a year or so ago; he was, of course, wonderful, but I thought at the time how old and tired he seemed (beyond what the role called for), and was glad I'd missed his Tevye. Maybe it was just the fatigue of recently having toured with "Fiddler"
I would bet that he sang Tevye beautifully, and that the company around him in "Fiddler" was extra terrific song&dance-wise, to compensate for his relative lack of mobility. Yes?
-s.
BTW: Remember him as the second-in-command to Curt Jurgens' U-Boat skipper in "The Enemy Below", with Robert Mitchum? That was a LONG time ago... |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1575
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 9:04 pm: | |
Dunno,S -
He was definitely a powerhouse, vocally. I can't say I really noticed a lack of mobilty. He actually danced quite impressively in the "Heaven bless you both, nastrovya!" scene.
In any event, we really enjoyed it, and I wish I could catch Fierstein .
Enjoy! |
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 2124
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 6:58 am: | |
Today's review in the Ledger was NOT GOOD. Thought he might grow into the role but currently didn't make it. Let us know what you thought after you see it,Soda.(As if you wouldn't post your opinion. HAHAHAH) |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1581
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 7:18 am: | |
Actually, I'm expecting
Fierstein.wav |
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 2125
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:20 am: | |
Debby, I initially misread your post as to say ...
You are preggers I did misread it ,right?? |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1584
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:40 am: | |
Sounds Crazy. No!
I'm expecting Soda to sneak digital recording equipment into the theater and stock up on new shtetl .wav files for injection into MOL threads. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2399
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:53 am: | |
Ben Brantley also posted a new review in today's NYT. I'm undeterred, & shall surely schlep through the slush to the Minskoff, irregardless. If Nathan Lane can play Max Bialystok, Harvey can play Tevye. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
-s.
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Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1586
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:57 am: | |
shall surely schlep through the slush to the Minskoff,
Try and say that 10 times fast!
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Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1741
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 9:37 am: | |
Fierstein can sing ?, with that crazy voice of his. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2400
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 11:28 am: | |
Brantley called it a kazoo.
-s.
BTW: |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2423
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 2:33 pm: | |
OK, I know you've all been eagerly waiting for my "milkman-on-the-aisle" review of yesterday's matinee of "Fiddler". Here 'tis:
I was rooting for Harvey. Really wanted him to show all those naysayers, to overcome the gravelly handicap of his own voice, and portray Tevye as though he'd invented the role. Nope.
He managed to win a Tony portraying a Baltimore housewife, and yet, as Tevye, he's a mistake. And it's really only the voice that screws it. He's such a gifted performer that one can almost imagine (and believe me, I tried) how his lines and songs would sound if voiced by somebody with the ability to...um...a...well...modulate. But sadly, this Tevye is the human replication of a pair of 350 MerCruiser outboards.
No offense, Harv. You can't be blamed. Your efforts are impressive, and heartfelt. But you still sound too much like Robin Williams' brother in "Mrs. Doubtfire". Which is to say, like yourself.
My observations otherwise:
*The stage design is beautiful, simple, and evocative.
*The onstage orchestra is totally adequate.
*Andrea Martin as Golde is just fine (nearly as good as was my high school and college chum Ellen, who sat next to me as we whispered, word for word, our scenes together).
*Yenta has her own song in this production, for no particular reason.
*Tzeitl has too shrill a singing voice for my ears.
*Motel The Tailor (pre-engagement) is WAY too over-the-top terrified.
*The rest of the cast is swell. They sing and dance and mug and mime to my utter & complete satisfaction, and the Bottle Dancers are still da bomb.
*"Chavela" (my personal favorite scene when I played Tevye), despite Fierstein's croakery, is still very affecting, and the last scenes still left me with a lumpy throat.
So, if you love "Fiddler" (which you do, right? Of course, right!), should you go see this production of it? Uh-uh. Not while Harvey's still in it, anyhow.
Meanwhile, the outing wasn't a total loss. The two couples enjoyed a great bistro dinner at Le Madeleine, Ellen & I reminisced ad nauseum, and the roads were clear and empty, so driving in & out of the city was a joy.
-s.
BTW: My friend Ellen says, "Better you should spend your money on 'The Spelling Bee', which she's now seen twice already. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4811
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 4:59 pm: | |
My favorite performance of Fiddler was the Columbia HS All School Musical production several years ago. If I do say so myself, my son made a very impressive innkeeper. |
jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 1156
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 6:15 pm: | |
I will take your word for it, Soda, and skip this one, then.
I read the article about the Spelling Bee show - think it's something like the 30th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - in the Arts & Leisure section, and it sounded great. I laughed out loud at the description of the "particularly unhelpful" word pronouncer. The example that the character offers for the spelling of phylactery?
"Put down that phylactery, son. We're Episcopalian."
That's the show for me. (and probably for you, too.) |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2424
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 7:52 pm: | |
I always listen to Golde. |
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