The Mountaineers Players' production of Fiddler on the Roof opened to rave reviews on Memorial Day weekend. Here are some of Michael Moore's comments from his Kitsap Sun review after watching the show this weekend:

"I enjoyed the innovative ways director Craig Schieber's production dealt with the limitations presented by doing the show outdoors, in broad daylight, without any special-effects bells and whistles. I also liked a number of the performances, many of which were by first-time Mountaineers filling the iconic roles of Tevye the milkman, his family and his neighbors in workaday little Anatevka, a borrowed-time little burg about to be ground under by the expulsion of Russia's Jews in the early years of the 20th Century. And much of the singing — both by soloists in the beloved songs and by the nearly choirlike ensemble pieces — was everything I could've asked for."

". . . the Mountaineers' "Fiddler" made good on the promise of those key numbers . . .  They were helped immeasurably by the costumes supplied by Barbara Klingberg, which were the special effects in the "Tevye's Dream" sequence, which featured blue-clad "ghosts" coming out of the woodwork and the richly upholstered Fruma Sarah (Marlene Anderson) "soaring" above the host, simply by standing on a chair on the KFT stage's shelf, behind all the deceased."

"The famed "bottle dance" was altered, and at least one of the more difficult stunts omitted, but the piece was still considerably powerful, thanks to what the dancers were able to do, and to the backing they received from music director Amy Beth Nolte's little band of musicians, headed up by keyboardist Debbie Valenta."

"Schieber found some unexpected dramatic kick in places I didn't expect. The wedding of Tzeitel (the wonderful Sarah Walsh) and Motel (the equally charming Buddy Todd), and the subsequent trashing of the festivities by the Constable (Jerry Dreessen) and his Czarist henchmen, has seemed trite and melodramatic in other productions I've seen, but were emotional and effective in their forest incarnation. Schieber and Caridi also upped the ante in the "Chava" sequence ("Little Bird") by having Tevye's daughters (Walsh, Lani Smith as Hodel and Amberlee Williams as Chava) alongside their younger selves, portrayed in a lovely dance sequence by Layla and Maya Markovich and Jasmine Harrick)."

"Stephen Wall, as Tevye, handled most of the acting, and all of the singing, with aplomb, and was especially effective in his more emotionally demanding moments, but also cranked up the comedy at times, especially in his exchanges with the jilted Lazar Wolf (a fine Tod Harrick)."

"His was probably one of the two best voices in the show, along with Jenny Dreessen as Tevye's wife, Golde. Their duet, "Do You Love Me?", was perfectly wrought, with just the right balance of heartiness and humor. All three daughters sang beautifully, as well, as did Todd (in "Miracle of Miracles"). And the whole company made the show's two most reflective numbers, "Sabbath Prayer" and "Anatevka," particular favorites of mine."

Congratulations to the production staff, musicians, sound, cast and crew for a terrific opening weekend.

Get your tickets now and make your plans to attend this powerful show. Performances are every Saturday and Sunday through Father's Day on June 17th.