Copyright 2000 by Edward Willett

I admit it may be a bit self-indulgent, but this week I want to write about Fiddler on the Roof.

It’s self-indulgent because (a) I’m vice-president of Regina Lyric Light Opera Society, the organization staging Fiddler; (b) I’m also the publicity director; (c) I'm also the production manager, and (c) I’m playing the lead role of Tevye.

But at the same time, I think this production of Fiddler on the Roof is deserving of attention because of the wonderful example it offers of what can be accomplished when people from many different organizations work together.

Fiddler on the Roof is a Regina Lyric Light Opera production, but it’s also a huge show that requires a lot of expertise in a lot of areas to pull off successfully, and a huge amount of physical resources, from props to sets.

Lyric is an amateur organization, and we don’t necessarily have all that expertise within the ranks of our membership. So we looked beyond our membership to others in the theatrical community—and have found a tremendous willingness to help.

To begin with, the University of Regina in general, and the University of Regina Theatre Department in particular, have been very accommodating. Gerald Lenton-Young, head of the department, has provided access to props and facilities and suggested personnel for costume and set design (Sonja Clifton-Remple and Bart Phillips, recent U of R graduates, respectively). Bill Hales, also part of the Theatre Department faculty, is designing our lighting.

Globe Theatre, Regina's theatrical flagship, has also been wonderfully accommodating. Mark Hetherington, the talented builder of the Globe’s sets, agreed to build ours—enormously beneficial.

The Globe is only one theatre company that has helped us out. We’ve brought in costume pieces from as far away as Red Deer College and Alberta Theatre Projects. Regina Little Theatre and Regina Summer Stage have let us draw freely on their costumes and props. Do It With Class Young People’s Theatre Company has loaned us an all-important cart. And the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble has loaned us something even more valuable: dancers, whose expertise is just what we need to bring certain scenes to life. Theatre Regina made rehearsal space available to us when we couldn’t use the space we normally use do to conflicts.

Even outside the theatrical community, we’ve had great cooperation. Regina Philharmonic Chorus, Regina Male Voice Choir and Studio Singers let us stuff flyers advertising Fiddler into their programs. And the Regina Plains Museum is allowing us to use several props, including an antique sewing machine that is vital to one scene.

The list goes on and on, and includes individuals as well as organizations. The point is, shows the size and scope of Fiddler on the Roof are difficult for an amateur group to pull together on its own, just like, in pioneer days, building a barn or getting the harvest off before it rained could be too much for a single family. But when many people work together and provide what help they can, the results can be magical.

Maybe putting on a musical (at least within a reasonable budget that allows us to keep ticket prices at an acceptable level) is the modern-day equivalent of a barn-raising or a harvest bee. It’s certainly proof that the spirit of cooperation is alive and well in Regina’s theatrical community.

That’s the point I really want to make this week, but as long as I’m on the subject, a bit more about Fiddler on the Roof:

It runs Tuesday, May 23 to Saturday, May 27. There are shows at 8 p.m. nightly except Thursday, when there is no show. On Saturday, May 27, there’s a 2 p.m. matinee, as well.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for students, and are available at Book & Brier Patch, Bach & Beyond and Cobb Swanson Music—or right here on inregina.com.

The director is Jeffrey Pufahl, the chorus director is Sherilyn Snider Sawatzky, Leanne J. Scott is the choreographer, and Read Jorgenson is the orchestra director.

And you can look for me front and center as Tevye, though I may be a bit hard to recognize, what with the beard I’ve grown for the part. (Here’s a suggestion: print out my column picture, and scribble on a beard with felt pen!)

See you there!

Posted February 3, 2004