Cast & Production Team | Review | Belfast Telegraph article | Publicity photos | Dress Reh Act 1 | Dress Reh Act 2
In her impressive directorial debut, Olive Melville has appropriately opted for an uncluttered and wide-open staging of this dramatic piece of musical theatre to allow easier movement for her extremely large cast.
Indeed, the community spirit which can be found in this story is perfectly reflected by that of this cross-generational company that can field three generations – including children – in this hard-hitting production.
Coming from a drama background, Melville has instilled the increased acting skills of effective timing and facial/body expressions into her two leads and other principals to make this complex story of tradition in a poor rural Jewish community in Russia during a time of great change – as highlighted within the family of diary farmer, Tevye, and his wife Golde – more powerful and emotional.
Gerry McBrien and Siobhan Farrell are gentle but convincing leads who read one another as well as Tevye reads the proverbial ‘good book’, while other memorable performances are provided by Siobhan McQuaid’s nosey Yente, Chris McGuigan’s comical nervous Motel and Kevin McReynold’s confident Constable – with solid performances from all.
Other strengths of this moving production include its atmospheric lighting, Angela Harding’s manageable choreography, a well-executed dream scene and the outstanding choral work (especially during Sabbath Prayer and Sunrise Sunset) which is the hallmark of this company.
Congratulations must go to Musical director/chorus master William Cairns, not only on his and his orchestra’s sterling work with this score (we would not expect any lesser standards from him), but on the recent recognition of his services to music in Northern Ireland with the well deserved receipt of an MBE in the New Year’s honours list.
This is a strong, but never overstated, production about a broken and displaced people held together by their faith….and the sympathetic curtain call must surely be the icing on this dramatic cake.