Music by Jerry Bock  Book by Joseph Stein
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem 

Synopsis

Act I

At Ellis Island, New York a group of immigrants wait to be passed for entry into the United States of America. The year is 1905 and the centre is at peak capacity resulting in delays. Enter Tevye and his family from Russia, where the first rumblings of the Russian revolution are being heard. They are newly dispossessed of their land by an all too familiar pogrom. They have been moved on from their village and are now looking for a new life in America.

They are greeted by the Rabbi and other Jews from their town of Anatevka. They reminisce about Anatevka and, encouraged by the other non Jewish immigrants, Tevye starts to tell the story of Anatevka and his family, his battle with his faith and traditions, and his turbulent relationship with his daughters, enlisting the help of the other waiting immigrants. Life in Anatevka is hard, and governed by the traditions of the Jewish way of life, with marriages arranged by the village matchmaker Yente. She has been to see Golde, to arrange a marriage for Tzeitel, the oldest daughter, with the rich but elderly Lazar Wolf, the village butcher. Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava, the three sisters sing of the matches they would like to be arranged for their perfect husbands. Tevye then enters, and muses "If I was a rich man", but his dreams are interrupted by various people and the news that Jews from adjacent villages are being evicted. Enter Perchik, a student from Kiev University, wandering, but earning a living from giving lessons to children. Tevye invites him to spend the Sabbath with them, and he is soon involved with Hodel, Tevye's second daughter. After some confusion, Tevye and Lazar Wolf agree to Tzeitel's betrothal, but when Tevye tells Tzeitel the good news she is overcome and has to reveal that all along, she has loved Motel the tailor. She is so upset that Tevye agrees (after persuasion) that she may marry him and not Lazar Wolf; this then has to be explained to Golde.

Tevya sets out to persuade Golde via a fictitious dream. In the dream  Lazar's deceased first wife, Fruma-Sarah, appears and she warns of dire consequences if Lazar should remarry.  The terrified Golde then agrees to the marriage of Tzeitel and Motel.  The marriage is celebrated, but after a joyous dance, the Constable enters and breaks up the celebration.

Act II

Act Two opens with Perchik on his way back to Kiev to take part in the revolution but, before he goes, he asks Hodel to marry him.  They tell Tevye that they will marry in defiance of the tradition that they should ask him, and despite his opposition, he agrees.  He bravely tells Golde of his decision and why he did it - because Hodel loves Perchik - and asks if she loves him and this leads to the show stopping - "Do you love me?"

The Constable warns Tevye that the whole village has to clear out, the pogrom has started. There is talk of resistance but it is hopeless: Anatevka has to be abandoned.

Tevye’s play ends with the villagers, one after the other, packing to start a new life. Back in the present Tevye, Golde and their four daughters are packed and ready to leave Ellis Island for their future in America.

Whilst the play concludes, Chava, the third daughter is now once again approached by Peter, an American Guard at Ellis Island.  Peter has been interested in Chava for some time but she has held off due to Tevye's traditional Jewish fear of all things Christian.  Now she realises that she loves him, and tries to ask Tevye to accept Peter but he cannot. Tevye forbids her to see Peter again. Despite this, Chava decides to marry him.

Tevye is left with the heart wrenching decision to leave Chava with her American, never to see her again, or once again abandon his dearly-held traditions.

Cast

Production & Backstage

Musical Numbers

Act 1

Act 2

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