FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – CHARACTER NOTES TEVYE (musical range: baritone; age 40+) To say that Tevye is the main character in the show is like saying that Russians quite like Vodka. He is the central point around which the narrative revolves and resolves. It is his interior and exterior monologue that we share and his eyes through which we see the drama unfolding. He also sings a lot. In fact he sings most of the time. When he isn't singing, he is talking to God or the audience, or running away from his wife pretending to be praying. The part requires a commanding stage presence and a larger than life performance, though we are keen to consider a performer who doesn't conform to the stereotypical physicality of Tevye. Most importantly, we require a compelling actor with vocal strength and good comic timing. GOLDE (musical range: soprano; age 40+) Tevye's wife, like Tevye himself, is a central focus of the show. She is a strong character who very much represents the traditional values of the community but has a delightful streak of irreverence and humour. She spars with Tevye, and usually wins, sings some lovely duets with him and is the gentle, maternal heart of the family. She's also got some wickedly funny lines. We are looking for a strong actress, with subtlety and range who can hold her own against the character of Tevye. TZEITEL (musical range: soprano/mezzo; age 18+) Tzeitel is the eldest of Tevye's daughters, and the first to defy convention and marry her true love, even if he is a wimpy, povo tailor. Although this is a smaller singing role - she only has a small solo section in 'Matchmaker' - she has quite a lot of dialogue and plays an important part in the narrative. We are looking for someone who is commanding and dignified in her performance and who has a confident stillness on stage. HODEL (musical range: soprano/mezzo; age 16+) Hodel, Tevye's second daughter, is a larger singing role with a solo and a duet. Her story is an important one as a significant part of the narrative is focused on her relationships with her father and her husband to be. We imagine that HODEL is bright and fun loving. She needs to be a lively, energetic stage presence with a good emotional range. CHAVA (musical range: soprano/mezzo; age 16+) Tevye's third daughter, Chava, is very much at the heart of the drama. Hers is a tragic story of familial rejection and abandonment. Although it is a smaller role with fairly short chunks of dialogue and a solo section in 'Matchmaker', the performer has to exhibit huge emotional range and convey some difficult scenes. SHPRINTZE / BIELKE (musical range: soprano/mezzo; age 13+) The youngest members of Tevye's family, the girls do not have much to say but are on stage quite a lot. These are roles for younger girls with a few lines of dialogue and parts in chorus songs. We would expect the girls to be confident on a large stage and to be able to project their voices. YENTE (musical range: alto age 40+) Yente is the matchmaker in the village and as such holds a pivotal position in the community. She thoroughly enjoys her status and certainly likes the sound of her own voice. There are absolutely no comparisons to be drawn from the real life community of the Haslemere Players. This is a non-singing role (except for chorus numbers) but the character has large speeches. We will be looking for a strong actress able to carry the scenes she's in without overdoing the comedy. MOTEL (musical range: tenor; age 18+) Motel is a poor tailor who is saving up for a sewing machine - that makes him sound much less interesting than he actually is. Despite a natural inclination towards timidity, he makes a courageous stand and offers himself as a match for Tevye's eldest daughter. Their marriage is the denouement of act 1 - until the

Russians arrive and trash the place. Motel is a gentle, loving character who has quite a few scenes of dialogue and an energetic solo. One of the happier narrative strands in the show, Motel gets both the girl and his sewing machine. We need a strong actor who can sing and move reasonably well. PERCHIK (musical range: tenor age: 18+) The student, the radical, the outsider, who gets taken into Tevye's home to give the daughters lessons. He gets a cold reception from many of the villagers for his new ways of thinking. It is this radicalism that eventually wins over Hodel. He has a solo, singing a love song to Hodel and must therefore have a confident singing voice. He also teaches her a 'new dance' from the city so he must be a fairly able dancer ( ie be able to move in time with music). He has a presence throughout and so will play a part in many of the others scenes and musical numbers. LAZAR WOLF (musical range: baritone age: 40+) He plays a central role throughout and no more so than in the bar scene where he sings a duet with Tevye congratulating himself on his forthcoming marriage to Tzeitel. Ultimately Tzeitel passes him up for her childhood sweetheart Motel, which he takes badly. He must have a confident singing voice and be comfortable moving to music. He has a presence throughout and so will play a part in many of the others scenes and musical numbers. FEYDKA (musical range: tenor age: 18+) The leader of the pack (of Russians). He needs to be a big presence with a big voice and confident stage presence. Despite his domineering authority around his peers, he wins the heart of Chava with his charm and modern views. Although he is present throughout, his peak is in 'to Life' where he leads the Russian's song and dance act to congratulate Tevye for marrying off his eldest daughter. FRUMA-SARAH, the butcher's wife (musical range: soprano age: 20+) She has a critical role in the Dream scene and has to have a strong singing voice. She appears a a ghost in order to beret her husband for agreeing to marry someone else. The ability to simulate a puppet would be an advantage. She could be cast from the mamas/chorus and so the person playing the party it is not limited to this scene alone. GRANDMA TZEITEL (musical range: soprano age: 50+) She appears in the Dream scene as the central figure around which Tevye constructs the reason for breaking his promise to Lazar Wolfe for his daughters hand in marriage. A strong singing voice is required. She could be cast from the mamas/chorus and so the person playing the party it is not limited to this scene alone. There will also be non-singing parts cast from the chorus for Motel's mother, Nachum (the beggar), and Mendal (the Rabbi's son). MORDCHA the Innkeeper, the CONSTABLE, AVRAM the bookseller, RABBI (age: each 40+) Each have their own importance scenes and need to carry a lot of the narrative. All are non-solo singing parts, although they make up the papas and the chorus so enthusiasm to sing and move to music is required. THE ENSEMBLE (musical range: huge and.. umm.. ranging; age: very varied) There will be chorus members on stage most of the time. The members of this ensemble may vary from scene to scene but will play a significant role in the show both in chorus numbers and as a 'presence' in dialogue scenes. The ensemble will be required to attend a number of Thursday rehearsals and will need to convey a presence on stage which enhances scenes but does not pull focus. They will need to be strong, agile and capable as they will be required to do random stuff like miming, carrying Tevye, turning Motel upside down. Oh and they have to wear masks a bit. Most importantly, they will need to be patient! It'll be a laugh though.