‘Fiddler on the Roof’, a Broadway musical by Jerry Bock will be staged by the senior students of the Colombo International School directed by veteran dramatist Vinodh Senadeera. The play portrays the life of Tevye and his five children, a Jewish family who attempts to uphold traditions. 

 

The main cast of the play are as follows: 

Divya Devanayagam as Golde 

Tevye’s wife Golde is sharp-tongued. In a Jewish society the wife is usually beneath the husband but Golde’s character challenges that patriarchal system and she dominates the relationship. There are certain circumstances which test her character. 

Viren Beruwalage as Tevye 

He is the head of the family and a father of five children. He tries to uphold traditions and understands the difficulties faced by Jewish families at a time when Jewish persecution was heightened. Tevye’s role encompass how there was a breakdown in the stereotypical family hierarchy at the time and how one man has to deal with all these struggles at the same time. 

Natasha Mamuhewa as Tzeitel 

She is the eldest daughter in the family who challenges traditions. She has a particular love interest towards Motel the tailor. However there is a contrast with the whole dynamic especially when it comes to the parental role and when it comes to the younger generation in changing the traditions. She is the first daughter who does that. 

Brindhini Perera as Hodel 

She is also like the first daughter who has different ideas and is rebellious. Yet she also portrays how she obeys the rest of the family. 

Holika Ahangamage as Motel the tailor 

Motel is a meek and poor tailor who falls in love with Tzeitel. He is nervous and weak but somehow marries his childhood friend Tzeitel. 

Ashani Kottage as Fruma-Sarah 

Fruma-Sarah is the dead wife of Lazar Wolf who is a rich village butcher. She rises from the grave in Tevye’s ‘nightmare’. 

The play will be staged on October 13 & 14 at the CIS Auditorium. 

Photographs by Damith Wickramasinghe