Klarinet Archive - Posting 000901.txt from 1995/10

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Fiddler
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 1995 21:36:02 -0400

Wow! The original on B'way!

On Sat, 21 Oct 1995, Gene Keyes wrote:

> Fiddler is a great clarinet show. I played the original on B'way for
> almost 8 years.

Now that brings back memories. I saw the "original" production of
_Fiddler on the Roof_ on Broadway with the original cast. My parents took
my brother and me to see it -- that must have been in the early 60's!
Could you have been the clarinetist I enjoyed so much that evening?

My recollection of that performance is that the clarinetist in the bottle
dance (possibly not the same musician who played in the pit) entered the
theater from the rear of the house, walked down the aisle playing the solo
as the dance began, and continued up onto the stage to complete the
clarinet part for the entire dance number. I could be wrong, but I recall
that he wasn't faking the part and a pit clarinetist did not take over
when the actor/clarinetist reached the stage. I've seen many productions
of Fiddler, but I've never seen that done anywhere except on Broadway.

BTW, Fiddler is (and may always be) my favorite show. I've played many
shows, but I've never had the pleasure of playing this one. (I was asked
to once but had a conflict with the schedule.)

--Mitch Bassman