Prologue (Act One)
During the Prologue ("Tradition"),
Tevye explains the role of God's law in providing balance
in the villagers' lives. He describes the inner circle of
the community and the larger circle which includes the constable,
the priest, and countless other authority figures. He explains,
"We don't bother them and so far, they don't bother us."
He ends by insisting that without their traditions, he and
the other villagers would find their lives "as shaky
as a fiddler on the roof."
Act One
Scene One: Tevye's daughters wonder if the
matchmaker will ever find them the men of their dreams ("Matchmaker").
The matchmaker, Yente, tells Golde that she has selected the
butcher Lazar Wolfe as a match for Tzeitel.
Scene Two: Tevye reflects on how much he wishes
he had a small fortune ("If I Were a Rich Man").
A group of villagers, including an outsider, Perchik, approach
him with news of a violent pogrom in a nearby village. Tevye
invites Perchik, a young revolutionary student, to come to
his home for Sabbath dinner and arranges for him to instruct
his daughters.
Scene Three: Motel, the tailor attempts to
ask Tevye for Tzeitel's hand, but gets tongue-tied. The family
and their guests welcome the Sabbath ("Sabbath Prayer").
Scene Four: Tevye goes to meet Lazar Wolfe,
the butcher, and agrees to the match with Tzeitel. A boisterous
celebration ensues involving the villagers and the Russians
who also congregate in the tavern ("L'Chaim").
Scene Five: As Tevye staggers home, he meets
the Constable, who warns him that a demonstration is going
to be planned against the Jews of Anatevka. In his inebriation,
Tevye conjures The Fiddler, who plays his violin as Tevye
dances his way home.
Scene Six: Tevye appears and tells Tzeitel
about her engagement to Lazar Wolfe. Golde rejoices, but after
she leaves, Motel tells Tevye that he and Tzeitel gave each
other a pledge to marry. After a struggle with himself, Tevye
agrees to their marriage. He leaves and Motel and Tzeitel
rejoice ("Miracle of Miracles").
Scene Seven: Tevye decides to manufacture
a wild nightmare ("The Dream") to convince Golde
that the match with Lazar will result in Tzeitel's death at
the hands of the butcher's first wife, Fruma-Sarah. Golde
is so horrified that she insists on a marriage between Tzeitel
and Motel.
Scene Eight: The villagers are gossiping in
the street about the mix-up in Tzeitel's wedding plans. As
Chava enters Motel's tailor shop, a group of Russians on the
street taunt her. Fyedka, a Russian youth, insists that they
stop. After they leave, Fyedka follows Chava into the shop.
He tries to speak with her, but leaves quickly when Motel
enters. Motel places his wedding hat on his head.
Scene Nine: The musicians lead us to the wedding.
The company sings ("Sunrise, Sunset") as the traditional
Jewish ceremony takes place. To the villagers' dismay, Perchik
asks Hodel to dance with him and she accepts, performing the
forbidden act of dancing with a man. Everyone else follows
suit. As the dance reaches a wild high point, the Constable
and his men enter. They destroy everything in sight. Perchik
grapples with a Russian and is hit with a club. The constable
bows to Tevye and says " I am genuinely sorry. You understand?"
Tevye replies with mock courtesy, "Of course." The
family begins to clean up after the destruction.
Prologue (Act Two)
During the Prologue, Tevye chats with God
about recent events.
Act Two
Scene One: Perchik tells Hodel that he is
leaving to work for justice in Kiev. He proposes to her and
she accepts ("Now I Have Everything"). He promises
to send for her as soon as he can. Tevye approves in spite
of his misgivings. After they leave, he asks Golde if she
thinks their own arranged marriage has somehow also turned
into a romance ("Do You Love Me?").
Scene Two: On a village street, Yente tells
Tzeitel she has seen Chava with Fyedka. The news Yente has
gleaned from a letter from Perchik becomes gossip for the
villagers, who turn it into a song that totally distorts the
truth ("The Rumor").
Scene Three: Tevye takes Hodel to the railroad
station. She is going to Siberia where Perchik has been sent
after his arrest ("Far From the Home I Love").
Scene Four: The villagers are once again gossiping
about a new arrival at Motel and Tzeitel's.
Scene Five: At Motel's shop, we learn that
the new arrival is a sewing machine. Fyedka and Chava speak
outside the shop. She promises to speak to Tevye about their
love for each other. Tevye appears and Chava tries to talk
to him about Fyedka. Tevye refuses to listen to her and forbids
her to ever to speak to him about Fyedka again.
Scene Six: Tevye returns home to learn from
Golde that Chava and Fydeka have been married by the priest.
Tevye says that Chava is dead to them. He sings of his love
for Chava ("Little Bird"). When Chava appears to
ask his acceptance, he cannot allow himself to answer her
plea. Chava exits as unseen voices sing ("Tradition").
Scene Seven: Yente is trying to fix up Tevye's
remaining daughters with two boys as future husbands. The
Constable brings the news that everyone in the town has to
sell their houses and household goods and leave Anatevka in
three days. As the villagers think of their future, they sing
fondly of the village they are leaving ("Anatevka").
Scene Eight: The family is packing the wagon
to leave. Tzeitel and Motel are staying in Warsaw until they
have enough money to go to America. Hodel and Perchik are
still in Siberia. Chava appears with Fyedka. Tevye refuses
to acknowledge her. Chava explains that they are also leaving
because they cannot stay among people who can do such things
to others. They are going to Cracow. Tzeitel says goodbye
to them and Tevye prompts Tzeitel to add, "God be with
you!" Chava promises Golde she will write to her in America.
Chava and Fyedka leave. Final goodbyes are said and Tevye
begins pulling the wagon. Other villagers join the circle,
including The Fiddler. Tevye beckons to the The Fiddler to
follow him. The Fiddler tucks his fiddle under his arm and
follows the group upstage as the curtain falls.
