Second time around
The role of Tevye in the upcoming Moriah production of Fiddler on the Roof will be played by David Solomon who performed the role in 1994…which was directed by Roberta Goot in charge of the 2018 Fiddler.
David Solomon
Solomon joins a raft of community leaders and members of the 1994 production who have children performing this year at the Sydney day school.
Fiddler is one of the greatest and most loved musicals of all time, capturing the hearts and imagination of audiences around the world. It centres on village milkman Tevye, husband to Golde and father of five daughters, attempting to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences in turn-of-the-century Russia encroach upon the lives of the family and the entire village. Full of humour, warmth, great characters and spectacular, show-stopping numbers like “Tradition”, “If I Were a Rich Man”, “Matchmaker”, “Sunrise, Sunset” and “To Life!”, its premiere (which featured Zero Mostel, Bette Middler, Julia Migenes and Beatrice Arthur among others!) ran to 3000 shows on Broadway. It won nine Tony Awards and has since been performed in almost every country on earth. The Hollywood adaptation starring Topol won 3 Oscars.
Moriah’s production of Fiddler on the Roof promises to be a breathtaking theatrical experience and the perfect event to crown the school’s 75th Anniversary celebrations.
Renowned for spectacular musicals that showcase its talented musicians, vocalists and actors, the school last staged the iconic show in 1994. Then, as now, it was helmed by indefatigable Director of Music and Co-curricular, Roberta Goot.
“Fiddler is the perfect choice,” Goot explains. “It is a beautifully crafted musical. Every song is memorable and it is full of great music and timeless wisdom. It is steeped in ‘traditions’ as we are at Moriah and, more than anything, is a story of family: it speaks to the challenges we all still face in some way – and highlights the need for balance, just like the fiddler!”
This historic production features current students as young as 9 as well alumni, current parents, parents of alumni, staff members, even grandparents! Rehearsals have been taking place over many months and the level of professionalism, attention to detail, effort and resources employed point to a definitive production.
And – like the show itself – the cast is full of wonderful characters with amazing stories: an Australian Olympic silver medallist performing with his son; a mother performing alongside her four children; a father who performed in 1994, acting alongside his son who assumes the role heplayed back then; two parents with two daughters all onstage together… and many more delightful ‘angles’. It is indeed a village… and a tradition
Look who is in the show…
Gavin Fingleson– is a well-known Australian Sportsman. He was part of the Australian Olympic Baseball Team that won Silver at the Athens Olympics.
Gavin has two sons at Moriah College. One of his sons follows in Gavin’s sporting footsteps and plays Baseball. The other is not into Sport and up until now, Gavin has been struggling to find something that the two of them can do together. Fiddler has been this opportunity – Gavin’s younger son is musical, and the two of them are now performing in Fiddler together.
Phil Filler(playing the Rabbi) – Moriah College Alumni and former President of Maccabi Australia.
David Rothman(moving sets) – Head of CSG – his daughter, Jaime is playing the role of Sprintze.
Rose Fekete– former Director, Moriah Early Learning Centres and WIZO identity – working backstage. Her son in law, David Collins is moving sets
A lot of older members of the cast were in the show in 94 and are now back – mostly playing different roles
There are many siblings and members of the same family in the show together including many parents working backstage who have children in the show.
- Gabriella Steinberg (Year 7) and her Stepfather David Baran – David plays Lazar Wolf in this production and played Avram in 1994.
- Mimi Shifroni (Russian dancer and villager) – is participating with four of her five children – Eden, Ellie, Jasmine and Judah (villagers)
- Vicki Abeshouse (a Moriah Grandmother) is a Villager, and her daughter Tamara Druery (who is a Moriah Alumni and past parent) is playing Fruma Sarah
- Sasha Fisher (nee Clifford – a Moriah Alumni and current parent of ELC student) is playing Hoddel. Her mum, Susie Clifford, is working on props.
- Shirley Frumar – is the rehearsal accompanist. She has accompanied ALL the rehearsals, in 1994 also. This time, Shirley will be playing in the band in the show itself, and her son Oliver (a Moriah Alumni) is playing the role of Perchik.
- Miriam Barr is playing the role of Yenta. Her son Josh was in the 1994 production as Fyedka. Josh is now overseas but Miriam has come back to participate in her own right – she is 71 years old.
- David Solomon – has come back to play Tevya again – he was Tevya in 1994.
- Heidi Nurick has taken on the role of Costume Director – both her children (both Moriah students) are in the show.
- Theo Whitmont is playing the Innkeeper Reb Mordcha. In 1994, Theo played the Fish Seller and was a Villager. Now, in 2018, Theo’s son Jacob is playing that role.
- All four members of the Bocman family are in Fiddler together – both daughters and both parents! Girls are in Year 7 and Year 9
- Three generations: Anne Shagrin is a ‘villager’ – her daughter, Ilana Rozanes is the Fiddler and was also the Fiddler in the 1994 production; Ilana’s daughter Emma Rozanes is also a villager.
Fiddler on the Roof at Moriah College, Queens Park
Sun 21 Oct 5pm | Mon 22 Oct 7.30pm | Wed 24 Oct 7.30pm | Thur 25 Oct 7.30pm | Sun 28 Oct 5pm
Wed Oct 31 7.30pm | Thur 1 Nov (New performances added as each sells out!)
All tickets $65 | Bookings www.moriah.nsw.edu.au
