‘Fiddler on the Roof’ blends pathos, comedy for a memorable production

“Fiddler on the Roof” — 4 stars

The village of Anatevka and its inhabitants live again at Drury Lane Theatre with a touching production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The unlikely musical intertwines the fate of impoverished milkman Tevya and his three eldest daughters with the realities of Jewish pogroms during czarist Russia.

And like the fiddler’s difficult balancing act, the challenge for the players is the shift from comedy to romance to tragedy.

Veteran actor Mark David Kaplan is an able Tevye, his strong voice powering through unforgettable songs like “Tradition” and “If I Were a Rich Man.”

Kaplan hits his stride alongside co-star Janna Cardia, who gives Tevye’s wife, Golde, a dignity not always afforded to the character.

The two shine in a very funny rendition of “The Dream” sequence with Susan Hofflander spot-on as a dead but no-nonsense Grandma Tzeitel.

When Jewish tradition bumps up against a changing world as daughters Tzeitel and Hodel seek unconventional marriages, the cast deftly portrays the conflicting emotions.

Tevye is torn when Hodel (Yael Eden Chanukov) and husband-to-be Perchik (Zach Sorrow) say they don’t need his permission to wed but seek a blessing.

“You have my blessing … and my permission,” Tevya triumphantly tells the couple to laughter.

But there’s no comic relief when Tevya declares daughter Chava (Abby Goldberg) is “dead” to him by marrying Russian Fyedka (Grant Kilian), who is outside her faith.

It’s a short scene between Kaplan and Goldberg, but they both convey the heartbreak of the moment.

“This is a memory play,” director Elizabeth Margolius writes in a message to audience members.

The play is based on stories by Yiddish author Solomon Rabinovich that are “recounted to the writer from Tevye’s perspective,” Margolius explained.

“I began to consider how Fiddler would look and feel if I approached it completely from Tevye’s memory.”

The theme of remembrance is furthered by black-and-white images of characters projected onto the stark set. They evoke grainy photos from an antique album, a powerful dramatic tool although occasionally distracting.

Fiddler wouldn’t work without a tightly bound ensemble. From the opening anthem “Tradition” to the gossipy fun of “The Rumor” song, Drury’s cast offers a real community.

Minor characters like Joel Gelman’s surprisingly likable Lazar Wolf and Bill McGough’s comic timing as the rabbi contribute significant nuances to the show.

The choreography is also a vital part of the production, with energetic ensemble scenes as well as the intimate first dance between Hodel and Perchik.

Another standout is the Drury Lane orchestra with Heather Boehm on violin for the iconic opening notes that introduce Anatevka and later accompany its Jewish villagers as their exodus begins.

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Location: Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-0111, drurylanetheatre.com

Showtimes: Various times and dates through March 24

Tickets: $85.75 to $96.25; $5 discount for seniors on Wednesday and Thursday matinees

Run time: 2 hours 30 minutes with a 20-minute intermission

Rating: For ages 5 and older