Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – until 21 September 2024
Reviewed by Julia Spargo
5*****
Anatevka, Imperial Russia, 1905. Tevye (Adam Dannheisser), a milkman, introduces the audience to his community, his family and the importance of tradition. One of these traditions is to matchmake the daughters of the community with suitable husbands, the daughters having no say. One by one, Tevye’s older three daughters, Tzeitel (Liv Andrusier), Hodel (Georgia Bruce) and Chava (Hannah Bristow) reject their village traditions and choose to marry for love. Tevye accepts this on the first occasion, begrudgingly accedes on the second, but by the time Chava chooses to marry outside their Jewish faith, this is a step too far for Tevye and he disowns her.
“Tradition”, the opening number, showcases the incredible set of the Open Air Theatre, with a lone fiddler (the incredible Raphael Papo) playing amongst the cornfields on the roof of the set. The huge cast are introduced and the choreography is employed to good effect, showing the diversity of personalities among the community. The dance of the daughters reveals the vibrancy and strength of the young women, and hints at the conflict that may lie ahead. It’s a strong and lively start. There is much humour in this musical, from a “drunk” fiddler lying across a table to the most engaging set-piece “The Dream”, where Tevye fakes a nightmare to convince his wife that he should renege on his agreement to let his daughter Tzeitel marry the local butcher, Lazar Wolf (Michael S. Siegel).
The set and staging are a huge part of this incredible new production, directed by Jordan Fein. The use of cornfields both above and surrounding the stage gives us a good sense of place and expansion. The entire cast and band (numbering approximately forty) are all on stage together, yet in the open-air setting this never seems cramped, and instead only serves to involve the audience further. By “If I were a Rich Man”, I was enjoying watching the audience foot-tapping and thigh-slapping almost as much as I was the action on stage. The timing of the wedding scene, at the end of Act I, with the beautifully moving “Sunrise, Sunset” occurring just as the sun was setting behind this outdoor theatre was hugely memorable.
Act II was briefer, and more sombre, reminding the audience about a part of history that has been eclipsed by more recent world events. The director Jordan Fein said in an interview published in the programme, “We are living in quite a dark moment, but if we can successfully create a sense of togetherness and unity every night with this audience…then we’ve accomplished something necessary and special.” Looking around me, mission accomplished. This production is on until 21st September. Go, take waterproofs and layers, and be hugely entertained.