Theater Review: 'Fiddler on the Roof' by Landmark Community Theatre

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

The “Tradition” of the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” has finally been realized as the Landmark Community Theatre production takes to the stage of the historic Thomaston Opera House. The production has been two and a half years in the making and it has proven to be well worth the wait.

The beloved and always timely musical is based on the Sholem Aleichem stories, with a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Lucia Dressel stepped up to direct the Landmark production, with her husband John Dressel working as musical director.

The director recognizes the parallels between the challenges faced by the Jewish community of Anatevka and the struggles that continue in the present day. “The themes of tradition, displacement, and the search for identity and belonging that resonate so profoundly in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ find echoes in the urgent conversations surrounding immigration and the ongoing fight for human rights.”

Dr. Dressel acknowledges that “at its core, this is not a story of sadness, but of resilience, joy, and an unshakable faith in the face of adversity.” The director manages to balance the more somber scenes with the joy and the gentle comedy in Tevye’s spirit.

In her program note, the director also addresses the issue of the swastika shapes that appear on the ceiling of the Opera House. “We choose to respond with a renewed commitment to using the arts as a force for unity, understanding, and social change,” she writes. “Through our collective performance, we aim to honor the memory of those who have suffered, while also igniting a spark of hope and inspiration within our audiences.”

Shanelle Dupre held down the roles of assistant director and stage manager of the large cast. Peggy Terhune provided the beautifully appropriate choreography for the important dance numbers.

The cast is made up of a dedicated group of community theater performers who have thrown their hearts into the familiar characters.

Chuck Stango brings his onstage charm to the role of the milkman Tevye. Stango is a veteran community theater actor and “is thrilled to have been cast in this bucket list role at a theatre he loves above all others.”

Sybil Haggard Chamberlin, a math and drama teacher in Torrington, takes on the role of Tevye’s sharp-tongued wife Golde. Chamberlain first appeared in “Fiddler” at the age of 19 as Hodel, alongside her friend Stango playing Motel. Dianna Waller Wood returns to this stage to bring to life the role of the gossipy matchmaker Yente. (“Right? Of course right!”)

CT-based performer Grace Mackie plays the eldest of Tevye’s “five daughters,” Tzeitel. In his LCT debut, Robert Wiener (Peter in “JCS” at Arts at Angeloria’s) is a delight as the poor tailor Motel.

WCSU junior Brianna Ortiz sings beautifully as the second oldest daughter Hodel with Benjamin Dressel, now a senior at Post University, as the radical student Perchik.

Katherine A Griffin gives a strong performance as the bookish Chava and Benjamin Fleury, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire who recently passed the CT Bar exam, plays the Christian Fyedka.

Long time performer Jim Woods takes on the role of the village butcher, Lazar Wolf and veteran actor Jonathan Ross is the stern Russian constable. It is easy to pick out the talented Tanner Sperry in the role of Avram and the Russian Soloist in his LCT debut. Payton Turpin steps into the role of Mordcha in his fifth Landmark show and Steve Sorriero is perfectly cast in the role of the Rabbi.

Amanda Bennecchi is perfectly creepy as the ghost of Lazar’s wife Fruma-Sarah in her second appearance with Landmark, and Dance Captain Chrissy Flynn (“Be a Good Little Widow” with Phoenix Stage Company) gets to play the (dead) Grandma Tzeitel.

Patricia Guarantano returns to this stage after a six year hiatus to play the mother of Motel, Shaindel, and Elyse Mendell (“JCS” at TheatreWorks New Milford) steps up to play the role of Rifka in “The Rumor.” Mackenzie Riggs (“Shrek”) and WAMS junior Molly Crossley play the youngest of the daughters. Brennan Cummings portrays Sasha in his Landmark debut and Jeremy Bond (“Our Town”) plays Nachum.

Rounding out the ensemble are Terry Breen (Golden Years Theatre Company,) Heidi Doolan of Watertown, Ana LeGassey in her Landmark debut, Peyton Sutherland, Shari Braccia (Landmark debut) and Aspen Hogrefe.

Kudos to the Bottle Dancers Sperry, Ben Dressel, Ferro, Fleury, and Cummings.

The orchestra is seated onstage behind the trees under the direction of John Dressel as he plays keyboard. The other nine musicians, including Stephanie Ruddy on violin, make this enchanting score sound its best.

Michele Eifes has assembled mostly plain costumes for the villagers of Anatevka that suit the era, although I would quibble that the married women in the cast should have covered their hair completely. Tabitha Langer collected the props for the scenes. Lighting designer Matt Delong lights the set well and Michael “Gonzo” Gonsalves makes sure that everyone is heard. Chris Guertin, Ian Jones and Chris Ryan worked together to design and construct the simple set that features straight tree trunks to set the tone.

Jeff Dunn announced the upcoming Landmark season on opening night, much to the delight of the actors backstage. “Puffs” will open in February of next year, followed by the musical “Pretty Woman,” “Anastasia,” “Ragtime” (I know!) and “Santa Switch.”

Performances continue at the Thomaston Opera House, 158 Main St. through Oct. 19. Get your tickets at landmarkcommunitytheatre.org or call the box office at 860-283-6250.

“The Seven Wonders: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac” will perform on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m., followed by a tribute to the Grateful Dead on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. The final show of the year will be the play “Miracle on 34th Street” running Dec. 6 - 21.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue.

She was a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.

Nancy played the role of Rifka in the Newbury Musical Theatre production of "Fiddler."