Herndon HS, 'Fiddler On The Roof' A Perfect Match: Cappies Review

By Shia Ringold of Quince Orchard High School
Cappies Review

HERNDON, VA — Sunrise. Vibrant red and orange lights silhouette a lone man, standing on a roof, looking over the town of Anatevka. With fiddle in hand, he begins to play a sweet, mournful melody, beckoning the townspeople and audiences alike to hear his song.

So begins Herndon High School's endearing production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

"Fiddler on the Roof" is a multi-award-winning musical with a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick and a book by Joseph Stein. The show opened on Broadway in 1964 and grew in popularity, inspiring several onstage revivals and a 1971 film. The show follows Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, and his family in the fictional Russian village of Anatevka as they navigate love, loss, and tradition. As tensions rise in the town and his children grow older, Tevye must learn to accept his daughter's decisions, despite their diverging from the customs he has always known.

As Tevye, Ethan Hardy brought life and passion to the stage, skillfully developing his complex character. Hardy's use of bold physical mannerisms and a variety of vocal techniques in "If I Were a Rich Man" and his tenderness and vulnerability in "Do You Love Me?" created an admirable balance of comedic and endearing, proving his impressive range of emotion. Additionally, Hardy and his eldest daughters (Emy Jimenez, Rae Weston, and Nora Blythe), developed thoughtful relationships with one another through reprimands and reconciles. Allie Steinhardt's Golde, both stern and caring, also contributed greatly to the family dynamics. From tears and quarrels to blessings and giggles, the family felt genuine.

Also notable was Will McClough in the role of Motel. McClough was a delight to watch as he grew from the awkward, humble tailor to the proud husband of Tzeitel (Emy Jimenez). Also, Yente's (Gaby Bradley) comedic performance provided a nice contrast to the show's somber tone as she garnered many laughs with her clever delivery of one-liners and quick remarks. Providing a melancholy backdrop to the production was the ensemble of villagers, whose captivating facial expressions, rich character choices, and haunting harmonies enriched the show, greatly.Herndon's production also featured several impressive technical feats. The set, designed by Charly Olsen and Carson Brownlee, was composed of several buildings that could be moved to form tableaus in different parts of the village. The buildings were decorated with details like hanging vines, cracked shutters, and mezuzahs on doorways, all contributing to the show's realism. Carson Brownlee and Isabella Ramsey also achieved several special effects and used two separate methods of creating fog backstage during Tevye's Dream. These effects, as well as multi-colored strobe lights (Isabella Ramsey and Liam Nowak), created a truly eerie scene.

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match." With plenty of skill, dedication, and energy, the students of Herndon High School and "Fiddler on the Roof" certainly were a perfect match.