By Shannon Williams
This weekend, I attended the production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Galveston Grand Opera House. As always, the Grand puts on a great show. I have seen this musical several times, from High school theater productions to regional theater and this was a touring company and a good one at that. I am sure that I have seen the movie at least 20 times and the soundtrack in on one of my playlists, so it is a musical that I know well. I had to keep myself from singing out loud, as so many of the songs are just great fun to sing. I could not keep my feet very still, as they wanted to dance along with it all.

While the story is timeless, it is very timely now in many ways. At the end of the show, they read a statement, in which they dedicated the show to all of the refuges from the war in Ukraine, and to the world-wide community of those of the Jewish faith. It was very moving.

If you are not familiar with the story it is about change and the lead character’s relationship with God, as he deals with many changes in his community and family. The most well know song is, “If I were a rich man” it is one man’s dream of what he would do if indeed he was rich, but it is also a prayer and a conversation with God. Tevye is a man of great faith, it is his being and almost everything in his life is done because of his faith, it is who and what he is. He has great conversations with God, both when in need and when he questions, not his faith, but why does it have to happen to him. His sense of humor really comes out in these prayers or talks with God. He rarely displays anger at God or with the events that are taking place. You see his pain and also hear his joy about the simple things.

As his 5 daughters begin to make decision in their own life’s, he is troubled, as he feels that they should not really have a say in much of their life. He loves them dearly and wants for them to be happy, but really struggles with them making decisions on their own. Mostly about who they are going to marry and not following the tradition of the matchmaker. This along with the changing community and how they are being forced out only due to their faith. I wonder how many of us could still have faith under these circumstances. Many people deal with such events by turning away from God and their faith. He struggles so much to stay true to his faith and love his daughters at the same time. As each of the three oldest daughters move further and further away from the traditions, he does his best to hold on to them. He knows nothing else and you see the fear in his eyes for each one.

Even though I know this story, I always find tears filling my eyes, if at nothing else for the love her has for them all and the pain he feels as they each move further and further away from the only world he has ever known.

In today’s world, everything changes so fast and nothing remains the same. I think we are all getting better with change, but still it scares most of us. Fear and anger go hand in hand and are often hard to tell apart. I want to be more like Tevye and have a faith that is strong, but a heart of love that is also strong. He knows that God will be there , along for the ride where ever it leads him.

[SW: May-9-2023]