Customer Reviews

Fiddler on the Roof: Based on Sholom Aleichem's Stories

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Shalom Aleichem was for modern Jewish literature what Mark Twain was for American literature. In one for instance, Aleichem like Twain was the writer's own appropriation. Mark Twain originally was a sounding phrase used by riverboat operators. Shalom Aleichem -- also a sounding phrase -- is used in Jewish communities to welcome eachother and in congregation the bride of the sabbath itself. Both Twain and Aleichem created indelible unforgettable stories with indelible unforgettable characters...like Tevye. And whether you found Tevye through Topol, Mostel or Shalom Aleichem's turn of the century stories themselves, you saw not only a mirror held to the Jewish Everyman but a template for the better inside us all. I like to think that Shalom Aleichem, who died in 1916 would have gladly approved of the appropriation of his character Tevye in this wonderful celebration of life. In my opinion what makes this particular story such a great celebration of life is not that it shrinks from depicting life's sometimes harsh realities, but rather one's ability to overcome them through faith, family and a recognition of the inherent beauty of life. After seeing Tevye in action, his simple eloquence, his love for his family, his courage, his humanness, you can't rightly help yourself from feeling a shared sense of appreciation for life.
La chaim, to life. In all languages, hope sounds just as good.

I loved reading Fiddler on the Roof because of how the characters came alive in my mind. Several of the characters' actions and personalities reminded me of my family members. The theme is univeral: How do parents instill their traditions and values in their children in an constantly changing world? The protagonist, Tevye, tries to instill in his daughters his values and traditions in an increasinly violent world. As the world becomes more modernized and industrial, Tevye and the villagers start to lose some of their traditions. The story is the epitome of the Jewish struggle and persecution they have faced throughout history. Fiddler on the Roof is a must read for the young and old for its lessons about life are profound.

Wonderful! It's the full script not a novel. It includes some wonderful pictures from the original production.

I loved the play. It it written with an ease and style that is not only pleasing to read, but also very smooth to perform. It is an eloquent statement about families and, of course, tradition. It offers us a view of the necessity of change and the importance that it has in society, not only then, but now as well. I would recomend that anyone interested in the Jewish way of life in the 20s and 30s in Europe, American musicals or simply in families, read this play; it will be well worth your while!

This play script for Fiddler on the Roof arrived very quickly and in excellent condition--better than the description. I was very pleased and would recommend the seller most highly. I couldn't have asked for anything better. The product looked good as new.

This moving play presents Jewish life in Tsarist Russia circa 1905. It's the story of dairyman Tevye and his family in the fictional village Anatevka. Tevye is a hard-worker who clings to his faith and traditions, and dreams of riches he'll never see. He believes he'll soon need the matchmaker to marry off his older daughters - but they soon force their more modern ideas about romance on their unhappy father. Tevye must also deal with a changing world and life in a nation with anti-Jewish hostility. The powerful script and song lyrics give readers the feel of Jewish life in Eastern Europe a century ago. Many Jews back then (like my great-grandfather) were leaving for a better chance in the USA or elsewhere; many that remained were later massacred by Hitler.

This musical opened on Broadway in 1964 with Zero Mostel in the title role; it ran over ten years with a then-record 3,242 performances. Adapted from the tales of Yiddish writer Sholom Alecheim (1859-1916), FIDDLER is a powerful tale of family, tradition, humor and sadness.

Though it differs slightly from the production script this version is very well done with excellent photos.

The book is in great shape, and it cost $ .02 + $ 3.99 shipping--altogether just over $ 4.00 for a book I needed quickly for a writing assignment. That's unbelievably cheap for a script of a great musical show with photos of the original Broadway production. I had the book within 5 days of ordering. Hippo Books has my vote for best internet seller I've ever encountered!

The first thing you have to realize is that this book is better performed than read. The amazing writing style makes you want to read it to the end. I recommend this book 100% to anybody that is interested in reading about a crazy village, a crazy family, a crazy man, an ofcourse a crazy tradition.

Reading "Fiddler on the Roof" is not the same as the experience of seeing it performed. In print, the story falls as flat as the pages. With so many characters the reader may have trouble decoding what is happening to who.

"Fiddler ..." is a wonderful story that captures Jewish life in pre-World War II Russia as well as any book. With humor, the reader sees the world through the eyes of a man with five daughters that need husbands. As each daughter gets hitched, a new wrinkle to the story is added. But the story ends on a sad and ambigious note as the family is forced from their land because of "... trouble in the world". With this, the very tradition on which the story is based is shattered.