Celebratory high-flying musical raises the roof

Rainbow Stage concludes its summer season with a celebration of life and resilience through a renowned musical, Fiddler on the Roof. This annual subscription, priced at $205.00 plus GST for a year, renews at $233.00 plus GST every 52 weeks, offering a 10% discount from the regular annual price of $259.35. The limited run of the beloved 1964 musical, co-produced with Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, features the Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, adding high-flying dance numbers to the briskly paced three-hour production.

The adaptation, based on stories by Sholem Aleichem, has become the longest running musical theatre production in Broadway history. Fiddler on the Roof follows Tevye, a milkman living in the fictional shtetl of Anatevka during the turn of the 20th century, as he grapples with change and the rising threat of pogroms and persecution of Jews in Czarist Russia.

His three eldest daughters defy tradition by choosing their own paths in marriage, countering their father's declaration that without their traditions, their lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof. Canadian actor Daniel Kash takes on the role of Tevye, infusing the famous position with warmth and humanity, and successfully navigating the complex emotional arc of the character.

The musical features iconic hits like Matchmaker, Matchermaker, Sunrise, Sunset, and a lively To Life. Despite some moments feeling overly static, the cast members deliver passionate performances, bringing the story to life with full-bore energy.