Matthew Murray takes a look at Fiddler on the Roof:
Even the darkest, most tragic musicals needn't be dour. In fact, isn't it better when they aren't? Musical theatre's ability to not only unlock but amplify emotions through channeled and targeted zeal is what makes it both unique and essentially American. A splash of show-biz may not be able to solve every problem, but it will make understanding every problem easier. That's why serious mountings of serious shows making serious statements so often fall into serious trouble: Forget the shine beneath the shadow, and the singing and dancing just isn't going to make a lot of sense. Sadly, Bartlett Sher's new revival of Fiddler on the Roof, which just opened at the Broadway, proves this all too well. . . . |
