# I'm going to see Fiddler on the Roof on stage next month. Will it be worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772 "2009-04-02T21:53:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/21 "2009-05-20T22:00:36Z")
This was the first professionally-staged musical I saw. My mom, sister and I went to see it at the Cape Cod Melody tent in Hyannis when I was 12 or 13 or so and you’ll never believe who played Tevye…Leonard Nimoy and this was back in the Star Trek TV series glory days! (Saw William Shatner in a play down the Cape around the same time, give or take a year.) Nimoy was unbelievable - -fantastic all around. Absolutely loved the show 1000percent. So glad you enjoyed your experience, too. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/22 "2009-05-20T23:42:38Z")
Nimoy can sing? Huh. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/23 "2009-05-21T00:24:17Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Nimoy can sing? Huh. [Yep…more or less](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/24 "2009-05-21T01:59:55Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Yep…more or less](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04). He must have needed the money back then. Now he endows observatories. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/25 "2009-05-21T02:46:48Z")
We watched the movie a few months ago w/ our 13-year-old son, and he loved it. He’s been to a few professional theatrical productions. I said, “Imagine what the Fruma Sarah scene would be like on stage,” and now he really wants to see it live. When I watched it with my son, I hadn’t seen it since I’d become a parent. I was a blubbering mess. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/26 "2009-05-21T02:47:38Z")
I went to see Fiddler on Broadway with my camp a few years ago. It was quite good, other than the fact that the lead couldn’t sing. No, I’m serious. _He could not sing_. It was painful to hear him rasping out _If I Was A Rich Man_… Bad casting aside, the plot is charming and funny. Go for it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/27 "2009-05-21T03:26:53Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > It was painful to hear him rasping out _If I Was A Rich Man_… I should think that would be appropriate for that song. Cannonball Adderley has a jazz album of Fiddler. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/28 "2009-05-21T03:38:25Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I went to see Fiddler on Broadway with my camp a few years ago. > > It was quite good, other than the fact that the lead couldn’t sing. No, I’m serious. _He could not sing_. It was painful to hear him rasping out _If I Was A Rich Man_… > > Bad casting aside, the plot is charming and funny. Go for it. I’m betting that was [Harvey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Fierstein). That voice, believe it or not, is his bread and butter. He wouldn’t be half as famous or recognizable if it weren’t for the buzzsaw in his throat. He originated the role of Edna Turnblad in the Broadway version of Hairspray, as well as having been involved in Broadway in an acting and writing capacity since the early 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/29 "2009-05-21T04:22:03Z")
My first Broadway experience was seeing Topol in _Fiddler on the Roof_ in (I think) 1990 when I was 10. I honestly don’t remember a lot, but I had seen the movie a million times. It is one of the greatest musicals of all time, I think; a compelling story, good music, and good characters. Fiddler is a heavy-hitter on many fronts. (It’s also the only musical I’ve ever been in as an actor. Two times, and both times as Mendel, the Rabbi’s son). ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/30 "2009-05-21T13:13:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Yep…more or less](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04). That was painful! But no, he was excellent on stage. Big booming voice, great stage presence, normal ears. He really was terrific. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/31 "2009-05-21T15:18:15Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m betting that was [Harvey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Fierstein). That voice, believe it or not, is his bread and butter. He wouldn’t be half as famous or recognizable if it weren’t for the buzzsaw in his throat. He originated the role of Edna Turnblad in the Broadway version of Hairspray, as well as having been involved in Broadway in an acting and writing capacity since the early 80s. It was. And I probably would have liked him in _Hairspray_. (My camp actually went to _Hairspray_ a few weeks after we saw _Fiddler_). But he was the wrong choice for Tevye. I literally couldn’t make out the words he was singing. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772/32 "2009-05-21T15:25:17Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > It was. And I probably would have liked him in _Hairspray_. (My camp actually went to _Hairspray_ a few weeks after we saw _Fiddler_). But he was the wrong choice for Tevye. I literally couldn’t make out the words he was singing. Couldn’t be any worse than Rosie O’Donnell as Golde. The last revival of _Fiddler_ was entirely too dominated by stunt-casting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-fiddler-on-the-roof-on-stage-next-month-will-it-be-worth-it/491772.md?page=1)