Fiddlers on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters (or Tevye the Milkman) and other tales by Sholem Aleichem which he wrote in Yiddish and published in 1894.
The storyline, although about Jews in Russia in the late 1800’s is every bit as topical now as it was when it was written.
Tevye, a poor milkman, ekes out a humble existence in Anatevke, co-​existing with the Russians both members of the Russian army and the Russian Orothodox Church. Tevye and his wife Golde, have 5 unmarried daughters and he attempts to maintain his family and Jewish orthodox traditions whilst outside influences encroach upon them.
Tzeitel, his eldest daughter, refuses a match with a much older man who is a butcher, in favour of Motel, the poor tailor, whom she has fallen in love with. Tevye reluctantly gives in, in spite of tradition. In order to ‘square it’ with Golde (and without losing face), an elaborate ‘dream’ sequence follows where Tevye tells Golde that he was visited in a dream by the butcher’s late wife, Fruma Sarah, warning that there will be dire consequences of Tevye’s daughter marries her husband. Further, a grandmother also visits in the same ‘dream’, to say that Tzeitel will marry Motel. Golde seems to accept this and agrees that Tzeitel must marry Motel The second daughter Hodel, is wooed by visiting student Perchik.
At Tzeitel and Motel’s wedding, Perchik invites Hodel to dance with him, something Jewish tradition doesn’t allow and finally, Tevye dances with Golde before the wedding is broken up by the Russian solders ‘pushing their weight around’. Next we discover that Perchik has to go away to Kiev only to find that Perchik has asked Hodel to marry her and she has agreed. They confront Tevye with the news. We are not asking you, papa, we are telling you. This is a huge blow for Tevye but he finally relents.
Tevye tells Golde that he has ‘given his permission’ for Hodel and Perhick to marry. At first Golde is shocked. Tevye asks Golde Do you love me? Theirs was an arranged marriage but she admits that, after 25 years of living and struggling together, sharing his bed and raising 5 daughters, that she does, in fact, love him.
Meanwhile. Yente the matchmaker (and local busybody) tells Tzeitel that she saw Hava with Fyedka, a russian youth whom she has struck up a friendship as they share a love of literature. Rumours abound in the little village of Anatevka and it turns out Perchik has been exhiled and sent to Siberia. Hodel has made her mind up to join him there and tells her father that she will arrange to have a Jewish wedding when she is there.
Hava finally gains courage to confront Tevye and ask him to allow her to marry Fyedka. Tevya considers this deeply but just cannot allow this, it goes against everything that his life and his religion mean for him and he tells Hava she must never speak of Fyedka again. Later, Golde runs to tell Tevya that Hava has eloped with Fyedka and that they were married in the church earlier that day. Astonished and distraught, Tevye tells Golde that Hava is dead to them.
The Russian constable arrives to tell Tevye that the Jews must leave their homes, that they are not welcome in Anatevka any longer. They have three days to pack up and leave.
As the Jews leave Anatevka, Hava and Fyedka stop by at Tevye and Golde’s house to say that they, too, are leaving. Tevye won’t speak to them but mutters Gd be with you which is relayed to them. As Tevye and his family leave the village, their intention to reach America, the fiddler begins to play. Tevye acknowledges the fiddler and beckons to him and the fiddler follows them out of the village.

This play was very good and was exactly like the film. It is a musical and the main character is very good. He also looks soo much like the original character! the story is about a Jewish family living in Russia and various problems develop. Its great and would highly recommend, though i prefer the film.

This is a really interesting play about a father who wants his daughter to marry in a traditional jewish way and encounters a lot of opposition from her.