This summer Kutztown senior Brock Rabenold was surprised when he picked up his script for the lead role of Tevye, the Jewish patriarch in Fiddler on the Roof.
“I’ve been part of the musical since I was in seventh grade,” he said. “The lead actors usually follow a typical pattern of falling in love over the course of the show. Fiddler is different. The characters may love each other, but not in the usual mushy musical way. Tradition tells them not to show it.”
While Tevye may be known as the master of the house, he is married to Golde, played by senior Victoria Diehl. Both Rabenold and Diehl readily admit that it’s Golde who’s really in charge.
“Tevye likes to think he wears the pants in the house,” Diehl said. “But it’s Golde who does a lot of the work to keep everything together.”
While Tevye and Golde’s relationship is one for the ages, the show takes place at a time of great social and political upheaval.
“Fiddler on the Roof takes place in 1907 when Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II, who had an incredible hatred for any non-Russians,” explained Jonah Arndt, a senior who plays the constable and the innkeeper. “He initiated the pogrom system, whereby the Russian army would destroy Jewish towns and force the people to leave Russia by any means necessary.”
“This musical actually has a message and a theme,” said Ryujin Jensen, a Kutztown Area Middle School sixth grader whose talent with the violin landed him the role of the fiddler. “The old ways can’t always be followed. Some things have to change, especially when things happen that are beyond your control.”
Coupled with the story’s historical significance are social changes that were occurring at the same time, particularly those involving arranged marriages. As the father of several daughters, Tevye holds strong to old customs in numbers like Tradition!, while wishing things were different in “If I Were a Rich Man.”
Meanwhile, his teenage daughters, Tzeitel played by senior Kiona Peters, Hodel played by junior Krystal Nolte, and Chava, played by sophomore Michaela Ryan, worry about their prospects in the song “Matchmaker.”
Yente, the matchmaker, played by senior Rachael Williamson, worries for her livelihood as young people begin to marry for love. “What will become of the matchmaker?” she wonders.
One of the show’s storylines involves Tzeitel, for whom Yente arranged a marriage to Lazar Wolf, a much older man played by senior Matthew Gump. Tzeitel much prefers a young tailor named Motel, played by junior Colton Cutlip.
Hodel finds love outside of tradition, too, when she sets her eye on Perchik, a young member of the newly formed communist party played by sophomore Quinn Snyder.
“Fiddler on the Roof is a classic story of love and tragedy,” Williamson said. “And the music is great.”
Each performance will feature a live orchestra conducted by Bryan Hartman, who also serves as the musical director. In total, 65 students will participate as actors, singers, and stage crew to bring the fully staged show to life.
Performances of the Kutztown High School production of Fiddler on the Roof will be at the high school auditorium on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are on sale every Tuesday and Thursday in the high school auditorium lobby from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Reserved “will call” tickets are available by calling 610-683-9945. Tickets may also be available on the day of the show.
