Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 44

Drama
FIDDLER ON
THE ROOF –
three exhilarating
hours of song,
acting, dance
and culture
This year’s Senior Musical, Fiddler on the
Roof, performed in the Geoffrey McComas
Theatre at Scotch from 1 to 3 August,
was a wonderful celebration of this classic
musical. Presented in conjunction with
PLC, the production was set in Anatevka,
a small Russian village, at the turn of the
20th century, Tevye struggles to maintain his
Jewish religious and cultural traditions, as
outside influences encroach on his family’s
lives. This classic, Tony Award winning
musical by Jerry Brock, Sheldon Harnick and
Joseph Stein, opened on Broadway in 1964
to rave reviews. The show is highly acclaimed
for its beautiful music and its subtle
exploration of faith and family that resonates
through the ages and across cultures.
An ensemble of 36 students performed
in the show, supported by a wonderful
orchestra and backstage crew. Many of the
Year 12 student performers, including Drama
Captain Charlie Veitch (playing Tevye) and
Drama Vice Captain Rex Cameron (playing
Lazar Wolf), have been treading the Geoffrey
McComas Theatre boards since Year 7. What
a joy it was to see them rise to the challenge
of this show as young professionals!
This show was particularly complex
for our backstage crew, and it marked the
fourth production stage managed by Drama
Vice Captain of Production, Henry Johnston
(Year 12). We congratulate all of the students
involved on an excellent season.
CHARLIE VEITCH enthuses about
Fiddler on the Roof:
For many of the boys and girls involved
in our senior musical, this was our final
chance to perform on the Geoffrey McComas
Theatre stage – and what a wonderful way
to go out it was! From the get-go, every one
of our cast and crew was ready, willing (and
mildly intimidated) to conquer this incredible
three-hour behemoth filled with song, acting,
dance, and of course the ins and outs of
Jewish culture.
What I love about each production at
Scotch is the opportunity it gives me to
expand my skills as a performer, and how
it always keeps pushing me to try new and
exciting things. This year several of the boys
took on the challenge of flexing our seriously
lacking dance muscles, and it ended up
being one of the most enjoyable aspects of
the show for me!
I have no doubt that when I look back
on my experiences at Scotch, this year’s
production of Fiddler on the Roof will stand
out above the rest – it was an absolute
delight to perform, and I can’t thank all those
involved enough for creating such a cracking
show. Mazeltov (congratulations), l’chaim (to
life), and of course, nostrovia! (cheers!).
OPHELIA HOPKINS – SENIOR SCHOOL
DRAMA STAFF
42
Great Scot Number 157 – September 2019