Fiddler on the Roof: A Revival

With the news hitting Broadway blogs and columns last week that seminal classic ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ is to be revived on Broadway next year, I thought I’d take a look at the musical theatre classic. Why has it endured?

For anybody who doesn’t know, Fiddler on the Roof is a classic musical which first appeared on a Broadway stage in 1964. The production was such a hit that not only did it enchant audiences everywhere; it was nominated for ten TONY awards, was turned into a hit movie musical and has sparked numerous revivals.

The musical itself is based on ‘Teyve and His Daughters and Other Tales’ by Sholem Aleichem. Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, a period of terminal decline for the regime, the musical tells the story of a Jewish family; a father and his daughters. The production chronicles the family’s attempts to honour their Jewish heritage as outside influences alter the way they live their lives.

The production itself is an intelligent exploration of what Jewish people faced at the time under the repression of Tsar Nicholas II. It produced musical numbers that have become standards of the genre, most notably ‘If I Was A Rich Man’ and it became so popular it was the first musical to reach the 3,000 performances mark. No wonder they want to revive it in 2015.

So, apart from the aforementioned reasons, why has it remained enduringly popular? Part of the credit for this sustained success has to go to the movie version of the musical. Released in1971, it was so good that one of its stars, Leonard Frey, received an OSCAR for best supporting actor.

However most of the credit has to go to the stage production itself. Fiddler is an immense musical that will make you weep and laugh in equal measure, and when done right, it can really capture the imagination. It also takes a grand theme such as the repression of the Jewish community in Tsarist Russia and frames it through the lives of ordinary people. This is, I believe, its ultimate key to success.

Audiences don’t tend to react well to grand themes that are beyond their ability to relate to. By framing the narrative through this village bound Jewish family, audiences can see how such prejudices play out in normal life. They sympathise with the characters and grow to support them in their struggles. It’s a similar way of framing a story to how the AIDS struggle was framed through the Alphabet City community of New York in ‘Rent.’

Fiddler on the Roof is a classic that has endured because despite the time it is set in, it tells a story that everybody can relate to. I have no doubt, Simon Morris readers that the 2015 revival will be just a big a hit with audiences as the 1964 original production was.

Read More

Why is Defying Gravity the Ultimate Modern Broadway Show Tune?

Considering my love of modern classic musical ‘Wicked,’ it should be no surprise that I believe that the production’s signature song, ‘Defying Gravity,’ is the ultimate modern Broadway show tune. Let me present my case.

I realise, Simon Morris readers, that this is a hotly contested topic and that many would contest the argument. The last 50 years has seen numerous shows produce iconic numbers and classics such as ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,’ ‘Memory,’ ‘Electricity,’ ‘I’ll Cover You’ and a thousand more are serious contenders for this title.

However I would contend that ‘Defying Gravity’ beats them all, and not for the reason you think. I would argue that it is the ultimate modern Broadway show tune because of the impact it has had on audiences and performers.

Of course Defying Gravity is a technically brilliant song and it bears all the hallmarks of a classic. It is a defiance anthem that comes at the end of the first half of the musical. The lead character, Elphaba, has just realised that every single dream she had was based on a lie and the song is basically her ‘screw you’ moment as she literally and figuratively defies gravity.

In a theatre it’s a real treat to watch. The number itself is full of fierce lyrics that resonate because we’ve all had that moment in our lives where we take that first brave step in going against what society expects of us. It has amazingly big belts and the production is immense as Elphaba rises up on a podium and looks like she is actually defying gravity.

However other modern Broadway anthems hold similar characteristics. ‘Electricity’ is every bit as defiant. ‘Memory’ is every bit as vocally stunning, if more melancholy. ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ is just as emotionally honest. ‘I’ll Cover You’ is equally as inspiring. However I would argue that none of the aforementioned tracks combine these elements in quite the same way that ‘Defying Gravity’ does.

This shows in the legacy the song has left. It’s a standard these days, not just of the musical theatre industry but of the entertainment industry as a whole. Everybody from Broadway starlets to TV alums to Pop divas has tried their hand at the song and that is because it is probably one of, if not the, most relatable number ever produced on a Broadway stage.

In conclusion, I believe I have presented a strong case to suggest that ‘Defying Gravity’ is the modern ultimate Broadway show tune. This is not because of each of its individually great elements but because the combination of those elements has captured an entire generation of performers. 

Read More

Ethel Merman: The Original Broadway Baby

Few people have had the impact on musical theatre that Broadway icon Ethel Merman has. This is why, Simon Morris readers, I make the case for Merman as the original Broadway baby.

Merman is a giant of the industry; ask anybody performing today if she was one of their biggest inspirations and almost 100% will be quick to assure that ‘of course she was.’  Musical theatre greats from Barbara Streisand to Patti Lu Pone and Bernadette Peters have credited Merman as an influence; even 90’s rock band Green Day did.

So what made her such a legend? Touted universally as the premier Broadway star of the day, Merman is best remembered for her belting voice, precise enunciation, unique personality and the longevity of her illustrious career.

Originally from humble beginnings, Merman, born in 1908 in Queens, New York, came to symbolise a generation of musical theatre performers over a career that spanned decades. Primarily she is known for the iconic 13 roles she originated on Broadway between1930 and 1959.

When making the case for Merman as the original Broadway baby we have to look at the show tunes she was most associated with. These most notably include ‘You’re the Top,’ ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ ‘Roses Turn,’ ‘Anything Goes’ and the tune that became her signature song ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business.’

These are big brassy numbers that represent the height of Broadway’s heyday. They take a big personality to bring them to life and reviewers both past and present have universally agreed that she managed to do so in spades. She did such a good job that they’re still overwhelmingly popular with audiences and artists alike in the modern day.

We also have to look at the actual shows that she was in, many of them original productions that are still performed on Broadway today. These include iconic productions such as ‘Girl Crazy,’ ‘Anything Goes,’ ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ and ‘Hello Dolly,’ each masterpieces in their own right.

However for me her most enduring contribution to musical theatre has to be her creation of the main character Rose in Sondheim smash ‘Gypsy.’ An opportunity that came toward the latter end of her own personal golden era, it perhaps her most acclaimed role and that has been emulated by greats such as Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone.

The measure of an icon is the influence she had on her successors and the legacy she left behind. In Merman’s case both were profound and that is why in my opinion she is clearly the original Broadway baby.  

Read More