WOLFVILLE, N.S. — It may take two to tango, but it takes a village of 100 to properly bring the Fiddler on the Roof to life in Wolfville.
That massive number is what makes up the St. Joseph's Stage Prophets production of Fiddler on the Roof, which will stage hit six shows at the Wolfville Festival Theatre from May 16 to 19.
Cast member and Wolfville resident Jim Murphy says the well-known and beloved production will tell its classic tale of a pre-Russian Revolution milkman and his five daughters who grapple with holding fast to tradition while embracing modernity.
It’s a story he says many can still find relevant today.
“It’s all of this wonderful history and some of the very best music, costumes and sets that have ever been staged. The show is very funny, and many audiences know the word to almost every song,” he says.
Murphy says the audience will experience “out of this world” surprises during the show with group founder and artistic director Mary Hanneman always seeking to draw otherworldly performances from her cast to amaze the audience.
The 100-person cast will include singers, dancers and musicians, but won’t overcrowd the stage since Murphy says Fiddler on the Roof is a show well-suited to a massive cast size.
“[The] story is about a village and therefore has many scenes where people rejoice, argue, celebrate and even fight with one another creating a kind of joyful mayhem on stage,” he says.
He also says the large number of participants goes back to Hanneman’s mission that the group engage as many people as possible, so they and the audience profit from a unique experience.
"For every show, we audition every person that comes forward - no one is turned away. We find a role for everyone. …It is just an important part of who we are,” says Hanneman.
