Fiddler on the Roof is well established as one of the great works of American musical theater. Adapted from the tales of Yiddish writer Sholom Alecheim and set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, it has proven an indelible tale of family, tradition, wit, and sorrow—all filtered through the ordeals of Tevye, a Jewish Everyman. Tevye, who lives in the fictional village Anatevka, is a hard-working milkman who clings to his faith and traditions, while dreaming of riches he'll never see. He believes he'll need a matchmaker to marry off his older daughters—but they soon force their more modern ideas about romance upon him. His celebrated journey to maintain his family and his faith amidst a rapidly changing world make for a timelessly profound read; the very definition of a classic.
This edition also preempts the next Broadway revival, scheduled for 2015.
You may notice the movie is being aired quite frequently these days paralleling with the fiftieth anniversary of the Broadway premiere. For longtime fans, this book will be a charming treasure, while simultaneously offering a very quick read particularly for anyone unfamiliar with Fiddler on the Roof. This lovely work is a beautiful collectible and will delightfully find a home amongst your entertainment memorabilia.
The unforgettable musical is bound in a dainty hardback book, complete with a dust jacket. At only 125 pages, it is comprised of two acts, and it is displayed in the play's format opening with the cast of characters and featuring some of the most beloved lyrics of all time.
There is not much else to the book outside of the story itself, such as you would discover with many classics. It must be mentioned that more could be included like a background to Sholem Aleichem, Harnick, other contributors and the long-standing history, endurance and legacy behind Fiddler on the Roof, especially being an anniversary edition. It is interestingly sad to observe that both the playwright Joseph Stein and the composer Jerry Bock passed away in 2010. Nonetheless, the size and brevity of this book is sweet. It is so gratifying to see a myriad of evidence that this masterpiece will stand the test of time, such as in this little gem.
Joseph Stein (1912-2010) was an playwright best known for such musicals as Fiddler on the Roof and Zorba. Born to Jewish immigrants, Stein grew up in the Bronx. He began his career as a psychiatric social worker, while writing comedy on the side. A chance encounter with Zero Mostel led him to writing for radio personalities, including Hildegarde and Jackie Gleason. He later worked in TV when he joined the writing team of "Your Show of Shows," which included Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner. He was honored with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theater, and in 2008 was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
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This book was provided free for review
by Crown Publishing Group
