Community Players

Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Book by Joseph Stein

It is 1905 in the small Jewish community of Anatevka, Russia. Tevye, the genial, philosophic dairyman who has confidential talks with God about his problems, explains that tradition is the cornerstone of his people's existence-"Without tradition our lives would be shaky as a fiddler on the roof." Golde, his good wife, tells the youngest of their five daughters, Shprintze and Bielke, that she hopes to marry all of them off to well-to-do husbands, starting with the oldest, Tzeitel, who is 19.

Motel, a poor young tailor, is in love with Tzeitel. They want to get married, but he is saving for a sewing-machine first. But Yente, the matchmaker, tells Golde that Lazar Wolf, the butcher, a lonely, middle-aged but well-off widower, wants to marry the girl. Over a drink at the inn, Lazar asks Tevye for Tzeitel's hand and the pleased Tevye agrees and celebrates life.

There are forebodings of trouble from the Czarist troops. Jews are being evicted from a nearby village, and one of them, Perchik, a student, arrives and arranges to teach Tevye's daughters for food. The Russian constable, who likes Tevye, warns him "a little unofficial demonstration"-a euphemism for pogrom-is planned for Anatevka. When Tevye announces Tzeitel's betrothal to Lazar, she bursts into tears. The soft-hearted Tevye recants, and she and Motel get married as Tevye bemoans a tradition broken. At the wedding, Lazar quarrels with Tevye over his broken promise. Perchik, who is a socialist and advocates change, breaks another tradition at the wedding dance by asking a woman, Tevye's daughter Hodel, to dance with him. Then another blow. Perchik and Hodel tell Tevye they are betrothed-they're not asking permission, they're telling him.

Perchik is sent to Siberia for his radical views and Hodel follows him. Then the third daughter, Chava, falls in love with Fyedka, a Russian. Tevye objects but they run away to Kiev and get married. Tradition is crumbling by the boards.

The constable informs Tevye all the Jews must leave the village. Motel and Tzeitel and their baby head for America. Chava and Fyedka are going to Cracow-they cannot stay with people who do such things to others. Tevye blesses them and the goodbyes are poignant as he and Golde and their two remaining daughters load their wagon and prepare to leave for America. The villagers depart in various directions but before they go, they form the "traditional circle"-their circle of unity as a people. Tevye leaves with a light heart and high hopes.