WOW Fiddler on the Roof

Weymouth pavilion

YOU'VE seen the film, now go and see the stage version of the hit musical that broke all the rules yet became one of the best loved shows of all time.

A thought-provoking story line about political unrest, religious intolerance and racial tension doesn't sound like ideal material for a jolly night out, but Jerry Brock's timeless score is crammed with hit songs like Matchmaker, Sunrise Sunset and If I Were a Rich Man.

Add to these the roguish wit of Sholem Aleichem's original stories, upon which the musical is based, and you have a sure-fire winner for all the family to savour.

The young members of WOW bring to this heady mixture an amazing integrity in which they create a real atmosphere of Russian Jewish village life at the turn of the 20th century when the pogroms forced communities to flee.

Tevye, the luckless village milkman with a hotline to God, is blessed with five daughters who personify the changes in Jewish society as they move away from traditional customs and strike out for independence.

It is, by any standard, a challenging show with its poignant plot and complex musical harmonies, but under the professional direction of Martyn Knight, the young cast rise to the occasion in the way local audiences have come to expect from this remarkable group.

If ever a show rested upon the shoulders of one performer, this is it, with the irrepressible Tevye dominating every scene in the person of Michael Fry. At just 17, this young man gives a giant leading performance and is wholly convincing as a man struggling with not only a wayward family of girls but a fearsome wife as well. Absolutely fantastic in every way.

Becky King is perfect as Golde who proves to be a match for her husband, while their three eldest daughters, played by Stephanie Taylor, Charlotte Steen and Hannah Watson, give wonderfully crafted performances.

Where does WOW find such rich talent? If the girls are terrific, the boys are just as good, led by Mark Bowden, Paul Lawless and Christopher White as the marriage partners with Mary O'Malley, Michael Meteer and Joseph Butcher as village characters.

Other parts are nicely played by Anna Youngs, Holly Morris, Emily Hurst, Shakira Brading, Christopher Limm and Alastair Simpson in a show that has no weak links at all.

Musical direction under the baton of Heather Reed is of a high standard and the occasional opening night glitch with sound equipment was soon overcome by the performers.

The production continues for the rest of the week.