For the third production of the season, Poteet Theater has tackled the 1964 Broadway classic "Fiddler on the Roof." Set in 1905 in the village of Anatevka, "Fiddler" tells the story of a poor milkman named Tevye and his family, and their struggle to find happiness amidst a time of changing social values and growing anti-Semitism in Russia.
At the center of that struggle is Tevye's crisis of faith as his three eldest daughters decide to get married, each breaking more with tradition than the last in doing so.
Poteet's production opens strong with the big number "Tradition," which features the entire cast as the population of Anateyka dancing, singing and introducing the audience to the world in which they live. There is a real sense of community established onstage that pays off beautifully throughout the course of the musical. Featuring a number of strong performances, this is the finest large ensemble to perform on the Poteet stage in the last year.
The cast does an excellent job finding both the humor and the pathos in their characters. Also of note is the palpable chemistry between the three wonderfully portrayed sisters Tzeitel (Bailey Maxwell), Hodel (Kelsey Guard) and Chava (Rachel Conn), and their respective husbands-to-be.
GREAT COMIC TIMING
Of the husbands, Kyle Anderson's work as Motel stands out for his great comic timing and cartoon-like expressions, especially when dealing with the always reliable Randall Hunter in an endearing and openhearted performance as Tevye. Tevye's overbearing, but well-intentioned wife, Golde, is played for more than just laughs by Chris Harris and Glenn Hallstrom is quite good as Tzeitel's spurned ex-fianc
