This production should have originally taken place last September but was postponed by building delays on the Carriageworks. However, it was certainly well worth waiting for. The beauty of Am Dram is that for one week the cast can forget that they are financial consultants, office staff or students and become villagers of Anatevka in this particular production by the Leeds Insurance Dramatic & Operatic Society (LIDOS). It is 1905, during the last years of the Tsarist rule, and the Russian village of Anatevka has a substantial Jewish population. The plot is a potent mixture of sentiment, religion and history featuring Tevye, a milkman with a clutch of troublesome daughters. The role of Tevye is a very demanding one. The character is on stage for probably over 80% of the production and is involved in 11 out of the 16 musical numbers. Terry Ford made this part his own and stole the show in my opinion. His rendition of Rich Man was excellent as was his leading of Tradition which opens the show. He was extremely well supported by Kazia Gamble as Golde and I thought their duet Do you Love Me in the second half was very moving. The three daughters, Louise Ford as Tzeitel, Janine Smith as Hodel, and Emma Folkard as Chava, all have good voices and they harmonised very well during Matchmaker. Matthew Stirk was an excellent Motel the tailor and sang well in Miracle of Miracles which is not an easy number musically. There was also very good acting and singing from Richard Koslowsky as Perchick, Chris Battensby as the butcher Lazar Wolf, and Rob Smith as Fyedka. Likewise, Bryan Craven played the part of the Constable very well, although I found it difficult to picture him as 'the baddy' having seen him play Dame so well in the last couple of pantomimes by LIDOS. The chorus work was excellent with some superb harmonies during Anatevka and Sunrise, Sunsetand plaudits must go to Brian Pearson the musical director for bringing out the talents of his principals and chorus so well. Overall the production by Shirley Hoyland was superb, and included some excellent choreography under the direction of Donna Wells. Fiddler is one of my favourite musicals as it has such a good storyline and LIDOS gave me one of the best performances of it I have seen for a long time. I look forward in anticipation to Aladdin in 2007. Fiddler on the Roof is at the Carriageworks until Saturday 17 June 2006. | 
