LAND OF CLEVE REVIEW:
Olde Town Hall Theatre
Makes a Great Match
for Intimate, Inspiring
'Fiddler on the Roof'
Director John Schneider delivers a solid staging of the show, always keeping the primary focus on the relationships between the characters. He is ably aided by assistant director and stage manager Dena M. Warmuth. Choreographer Tess Marjanovic has definitely kept "traditions" alive in her traditional dance sequences. Music director Kristen Johnson establishes a lush and lively soundtrack for the proceedings, deftly delivered by orchestra members Kathryn Freeman, Michael Sejka, Melissa Willis, Dylan Friedman, and Greg Voss.
Schneider has also brought together a compelling group of local performers to people this period piece. Jeffrey E. Braun commands the stage as Tevye, a hardened man who has had a hard life. He roars through each scene like a man hellbent on getting into heaven, and attacks each song with powerful passion. Yet Braun's tour de force performance also allows him to slowly reveal the kindness and compassion hidden away in his character's heart.
Jenny Rohrs complements Braun perfectly as his long-suffering but strong-willed wife Golde, and their duet "Do You Love Me?" is a bittersweet valentine to mismatched marriages everywhere.
As the couple's three eldest daughters, Jailyn Harris, Tess Marjanovic and Emily Reynolds give spirited performances, filled with youthful hope and budding romantic yearnings. Steven Livingston, Randall Wysocky and Declan Rohrs are sweetly suitable as the three unorthodox suitors who gradually test Tevye's patience until it reaches its breaking point.
Each member of the energetic and earnest ensemble feels like a friend or family member by the end of the evening. The company features Ava Anselmo, Bridget Gerba, Christeen Currie, Nenad Marjanovic, Steve Gerba, Owen Gerba, Caylah Cooke, Jim Gilmore, Cheryl McConnell, Kristen Brosky, Annaliese Eldridge, Ray Cosma, Brittany Ozanich, Tyler Milicic, Javier Vega, Grace Davis, Gina Marjanovic, Kira Marjanovic, and Bailey Rohrs...
READ THE FULL REVIEW AT:
http://inthelandofcleve.blogspot.com/2016/03/cleve-review-olde-town-hall-theatre-is.html
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