The current Fiddler On The Roof, directed by David Leveaux, is a great spectacle with an imaginative set by Tom Pye, good lighting by Brian MacDevitt, and a mixture of good costumes and anachronisms (village men in 1905 didn't wear Hassidic black and white) by Vicki Mortimer, with terrific (the original) choreography by Jerome Robbins. The great songs all work well, all the women sing beautifully, and, all in all, it's a pretty good Fiddler, and since Zero Mostel or Hershel Bernardi are not doing their versions across the street, it's worth seeing. However... although Randy Graff makes a good Golde, missing in Alfred Molina's Tevya are the sparkling peaks of joy, deep, moving sadness, and eviscerating frustration that the part really needs.
This version doesn't break your heart (they'll all be okay: they'll go to America) -- but it does entertain you, particularly with a star turn by one of the funniest physical comedians you'll see anywhere ever, John Cariani as Motel. He tops Roberto Begnini.
