Written by Max
Lewkowicz, Valerie Thomas
Directed by Max
Lewkowicz
Streaming on Amazon
Prime and YouTube
Reviewed by Len Power
12 April 2020
‘Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles’ is a 2019 documentary film
about the creation and significance of the 1964 musical ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. It features interviews with Fiddler creators
such as Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Joseph Stein, and Harold Prince, as well
as scholars, actors, and other musical theatre figures like Stephen Sondheim
and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Based on the Tevye stories by Sholom Aleichem, the musical
was developed during the early 1960s. With
music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, the show
is set in the impoverished village of Anatevka in Russia in 1905. The story centres on Tevye, the father of
five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural
traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family's lives. It opened on Broadway in 1964 and ran for
3,242 performances. It was made into a
successful film in 1971 and stage productions continue to be produced around
the world.
The documentary presents a wealth of information about the
musical and its literary source.
Interviews with prominent Jewish academics provide a deeper
understanding of the cultural and political background to these stories. The story of the development of the musical
is no less fascinating with first hand details provided by the surviving
creative team members and other luminaries.
The film is dedicated to the memory of the producer, Harold Prince, who
died during production.
Photographs from rehearsals of the original production as
well as video clips from more recent performances and from the 1971 movie have
been well-chosen to illustrate the narrative.
Highlights include a montage of singers and groups from the
1960s performing ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, some of them fine but others are so
awful they’re funny. ‘Hamilton’ composer
and star, Lin Manuel Miranda, demonstrates that he can still remember the
choreography from a 6th grade school production. Later, at his wedding, an amateur video
records an impromptu performance of him singing ‘To Life’ with his
father-in-law.
Best of all is Israeli actor, Topol, who played Tevye so
memorably in the film version and on stage remembering his reaction to the
filming of ‘Far From the Home I love’ in a desolate location. That 50 year old memory still brings tears to
his eyes. It makes you want to watch the
movie again.
This is an excellent documentary about one of the most loved
musicals of all time. You can see it on
Amazon Prime and Youtube.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
‘Theatre of Power’, a
regular podcast on Canberra’s performing arts scene with Len Power, can be
heard on Spotify, ITunes and other selected platforms or at https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/theatre-of-power.
