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Our story focuses upon the life struggles of a
hardworking dairyman (Tevye) and his family, desperate to maintain a life
guided by Jewish tradition in early
twentieth century Russia.
Tevye, is searching for appropriate husbands for his
three eldest daughters but, his daughters want to break with tradition by
marrying the man they love not, the man offered to them by the village
matchmaker (Yente).
Tevye, angered by his daughter’s intent is also torn
by the love of a father wishing to see his children happy in life. To further
complicate the situation, Tevye’s wife (Golde) will certainly see that her
‘weak willed’ husband suffers, should she discover his plot to shun tradition
by inventing an elaborate story in the guise of a terrible nightmare,
professing eternal doom if his daughters do not marry their chosen suitor.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are instigating terrible
pogroms against the Jewish people, in time, forcing all Jews to leave Anatevka.
This is a story of an all too familiar persecution of
people whose only wish is to live a peaceful life guided by their religious
beliefs.
Fiddler on the Roof is a story filled with emotion,
passion and a wonderful musical score relayed through characters recognisable
in many countries throughout the world.
Tevye shows us that sometimes life can be tough! But,
with a loving and devoted family bound together by tradition and religious
harmony, life can be a wonderful thing.
I would like to think that Fiddler on the Roof
captures the essence of family life which holds true today, 100 years on from a
small community in the town of Anatevka.
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