Sunrise, Sunset

"With faith and family and friends, you can endure anything."

Ed McClure says he believes that is the message of "Fiddler on the Roof," which will be performed today through Sept. 28 at Rogers Little Theater. The musical, which opened on Broadway in 1964 and won nine Tony Awards, features music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and book by Joseph Stein.

McClure, director of the show, says the story centers on a dairyman named Tevye, who is hardworking and pious. Living in czarist Russia in 1905, Tevye and his wife have five daughters in a village called Anatevka, a place where Russians have allowed Jews to settle. There is turmoil, and eventually the czar determines that Jews should not be there and have to leave, he adds.

Tevye begins his journey in the production with the notion that "because of our history or our traditions, we know kind of what's expected of us and we know what we're supposed to do."

"Through the marriage and (betrothal) of three of his daughters, he learns that in fact times are changing," McClure says. "Change is inevitable: good, bad or indifferent."

Regardless of change, though, "you still have your faith, you still have your family and you still have your friends." Tevye is very faithful, and there are moments in the show when the character stops the action and talks to God, McClure says.

"It's just really enlightening to see somebody that can sort of have that kind of strong faith and yet accept change," he says.

Tevye is portrayed by Tom Karounos, making his RLT debut. McClure says Karounos has a charisma and likeability, which he saw at auditions before the actor even opened his mouth to speak or sing. He also has opera training and played the role 25 years ago while he was in high school.

"It was just really amazing to be able to combine a really strong actor and really strong singer and a gentleman who looks so much the part," McClure says.

The music in "Fiddler on the Roof" is very true to the ethnicity of the people and is very joyous, lively and funny, he says. He adds that it definitely helps tell the story. Two of the well-known songs from the show are "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "Sunrise, Sunset." One of McClure's favorite songs is "Sabbath Prayer," which is a sweet prayer sung when the family gathers for the Sabbath dinner.

McClure wanted the theater to perform "Fiddler on the Roof" because audiences seem to enjoy the musical, and it's an important show. The production explores the notion of ethnic cleansing, which is still relevant today, he says.

"It tells a very serious story in a very sweet, lighthearted, very, very funny way."