Breaking Tradition: Tzeitel chooses own path in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Tzeitel chooses own path in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Murphy
Murphy

"And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix,

"Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?

"The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!"

-- "Fiddler on the Roof"

Taking the Broadway stage by storm in 1964 -- and becoming the first musical theater run in history to surpass 3,000 performances -- "Fiddler on the Roof" might not sound like a play about women's liberation.

Don't be fooled, says Kelly Gabrielle Murphy, who plays oldest daughter Tzeitel in the touring production stopping May 10-15 at the Walton Arts Center.

"Tzeitel is the first of Tevye's five daughters to defy the tradition and to set the path for her sisters to follow," she says. "My Tzeitel yearns to let love guide her rather than previous traditions."

Tzeitel, according to the tradition at the center of the story, must be the first to make her match in marriage.

"For Papa,

"Make him a scholar.

"For mama,

"Make him rich as a king.

"For me, well,

"I wouldn't holler

"If he were as handsome as anything."

Tevye, with all the best intentions, makes a match for Tzeitel with Lazar Wolf the butcher -- not knowing she's already in love with and has promised herself to Motel Kamzoil the tailor. And when he allows the marriage she chooses, it's a turning point in her village of Anatevka -- where the Russian revolution is already making life "as precarious as a fiddler on the roof."

"Finding strength in love is at the center of my character," Murphy expands on her role. "Her love for her sisters, her husband, her family, her religion, and her heritage. That to me is extremely special! She believes and has the strength within her in 1905 Russia to say 'this is what I want' and 'this is what I am going to do' -- with the help of Motel, of course!

"I think audiences of all generations have embraced 'Fiddler on the Roof' because the story is timeless," the New York actress goes on. "It is easy for everyone, regardless of the generation, to see a piece of themselves and their desires onstage, whether that be the daughters, the suitors, mamas, papas, Yente...

"One of my favorite things is when we meet whole families at the stage door, and they tell us they have been coming to see productions of 'Fiddler' as a family for years," Murphy enthuses. "It makes me feel so joyful to carry on the long legacy of this beautiful story. In addition, this is a story of people being forced out of their homes, something that we are seeing today in Ukraine -- and, when this production opened on Broadway several years ago, in Syria. This story remains just as relevant now as it did in 1964."

The revival, created by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind "South Pacific" and "The King and I," has been called "an entirely fresh, funny and gorgeous new production" and "a remarkable achievement." For Murphy, it's her first big tour, rewarding because she can "bring this Broadway production all around the country to audiences who perhaps don't have the opportunity to come see productions like this in New York City." It's also been a challenge to be away from friends and family, having been with the tour since the first show in 2018 "minus our pandemic break."

It is, however, the career Murphy has wanted since she first saw the New York City Rockettes perform.

"Then, over time, I realized I could combine my loves of dancing, singing and acting in this amazing art form called musical theater and fell in love," she says. "After 'Fiddler,' I will be finishing up my master's degree in vocal pedagogy specializing in musical theater voice. I will also continue to teach voice, catch up on spending time with family, and hopefully on to a new theatrical adventure soon!"

  photo  When Tevye allows his daughters to marry men of their choosing, he’s breaking all the traditions of Anatevka and proving love wins, says actress Kelly Gabrielle Murphy. (Courtesy Photo)
 
 
  photo  The revival of “Fiddler on the Roof,” created by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind “South Pacific” and “The King and I,” has been called “an entirely fresh, funny and gorgeous new production” and “a remarkable achievement.” (Courtesy Photo)
 
 

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