Follow Us On Twitter
Fiddler on the Roof Reviews
Washington Post- Recommended
"...Equally fruitful is the way Signature Theatre’s first-ever production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” with the audience on all sides and only a few rows deep, turns that intimacy into poignancy. The early-1900s Russian-Jewish villagers sing the opening number, “Tradition,” while arranged around a large table whose wooden pieces will gradually shift and fragment throughout along with the community itself. The brown and beige in Misha Kachman’s set is interrupted by pops of color from paintings above us (inspired by the ceilings of Eastern European synagogues), and surprise appearances by flowers that highlight moments of hope amid the poverty and persecution."
DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended
"...Superlatives are often overused. But there are not enough superlatives in the lexicon of praise to describe Signature Theatre's magnificent production of Fiddler on the Roof. The exquisite musical theater craftmanship of Jerry Bock (music), Sheldon Harnick (lyrics), and Joseph Stein (book) could not be in better hands."
MetroWeekly- Recommended
"...The production hits its most resonant notes, however, when evoking the joy and celebration rooted in home and community, and religion. From the tender blessing of the Tevye-led "Sabbath Prayer," to the boisterously danced "To Life," the cast shines when it's all hands on deck for uplifting occasions."
Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended
"...Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia is known for its thoughtful rethinking of classic musicals, and its current production of Fiddler on the Roof in the MAX Theatre is, with a few minor stylistic exceptions, one of its most striking efforts. The flexible MAX stage is configured into an in-the-round setting that draws the audience into the world of an early 20th-century Russian shtetl with a minimum of realistic scenery."
Washington City Paper- Recommended
"...The company's spectacular rendition of "Tradition" is an early proof that the show's music, by Jerry Bock, and lyrics, by Sheldon Harnick, still have exuberant life in them after all these years. Vocal performances from the cast are solid; Alex Stone, as Russian Orthodox neighbor Fyedka, shines in "L'Chaim" with his warbling salvo of an introduction, worthy of a Red Army Choir album. The dancing, particularly the sequence in which four actors balance bottles on their hats during "The Wedding," is impressive."
Washington Jewish Week- Recommended
"...Ultimately, though, any "Fiddler on the Roof" is only as good as its Tevye. Douglas Sills, who boasts Broadway, regional theater, film and television credits, takes a subdued approach rather than leaning into high-strung, main character energy that so many actors relish in this role. Tevye is typically robust, loud, outspoken, full-bodied and a wise trickster in dealing with his fellow townspeople's problems."
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...The beauty of tradition, Tevye the Milkman tells us, is that "everyone knows who they are." At Signature Theatre, where Fiddler on the Roof unfolds in the round, that certainty is tested again and again as the villagers of Anatevka, a turn-of-the-century shtetl (a small Jewish village in eastern Europe) navigate poverty, Czarist oppression, and, for Tevye, the more intimate upheavals of daughters who insist on choosing their own futures. "You might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy," he laments."
MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended
"...There's a reason "Fiddler on the Roof" has withstood the test of time-not just for those of the Jewish faith, but for anyone seeking to celebrate love, heartbreak, and joyful music. Signature Theatre proudly lifts Jewish voices, radiates joy, and honors thousand-year-old traditions in marvelous fashion in director Joe Calarco's take on this musical theatre classic."
Morris Theatre DC- Highly Recommended
"...Douglas Sills is a great Tevye. Beyond his casual fatherly demeanor, I appreciated the effort in putting on a slight Yiddish accent that did not intrude on his overall performance. But, he is not the most compelling in this ensemble, which title belongs to both of the excellent turns for Motel and Perchik from Jake Loewenthal and Ariel Neydavoud respectively."
BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended
"...Specific events in the intimate world of Anatevka, Russia are presented in a manner that propels universal understanding of the relevant themes of family, forgiveness, acceptance, and tolerance in the highly immersive and interactive staging of the renowned classic Fiddler on the Roof, now at the Signature Theatre. The engaging ensemble assembled here under the ingenious direction of Joe Calarco, shows why this landmark 1964 musical has spawned so many stage revivals through the decades as well as a magnificent 1971 film. (Based on the Sholem Aleichem stories by special permission of Arnold Perl)."