Character Descriptions
| Tevye: |
As the narrator and main character of this story, Tevye is the father of five
daughters, an impoverished
milkman, a leader in his Jewish community, and husband to the headstrong Golde. He is faced with struggles
to
uphold the traditions of his people, especially through the marriages of his daughters. Tevye is a likeable,
hard-working, pious man (somewhat of a dreamer) who sees the positive side of life. He is humourous and
usually
relaxed, but when pushed, shows stubbornness and rage. Vocal Range: Tenor/Baritone (Ab2 – F5) |
| Golde: |
As Tevye’s wife of twenty-five years and mother of his five daughters, Golde
is an efficient helpmate and
traditionalist, faced with changes of a “new world.” She has a sharp tongue and wit. Her love of family
helps
her face the challenges that her family encounters. Vocal Range: Mezzo/Alto (A3 – Eb5) |
| Tzeitel: |
Tevye and Golde’s eldest daughter in love with Motel. She persuades her father
to let her marry Motel in
spite
of the fact that Tevye has made her a match with Lazar Wolfe who is old enough to be her father. Vocal
range:
Soprano/Alto (B3 to D5) |
| Hodel: |
Tevye and Golde’s second daughter, Hodel falls in love with Perchik and they
defy tradition by not seeking
her
father’s permission to marry, only his blessing. Later, she leaves Anatevka for Siberia to be with the
imprisoned Perchik. Vocal Range: Soprano with strong chest voice (B3 – E5) |
| Chava: |
Tevye and Golde’s scholarly, third daughter who loves reading. She falls in
love with the Russian soldier
Fyedka and elopes with him. This huge break from tradition breaks her father’s heart and her family disowns
her,
until the end when Tevye momentarily acknowledges them. Ballet and/or Lyrical Modern dance training
preferred.
Vocal Range: Soprano/Alto |
| Shprintze: |
Tevye and Golde’s fourth daughter. Vocal Range: Soprano/Alto |
| Bielke: |
Tevye and Golde’s youngest daughter. Vocal Range: Soprano/Alto
|
| Yente: |
The village matchmaker. She is a widow and a meddling busy-body who makes it
her business to know all of
the
town gossip. Strong comedic talents preferred. Vocal Range Soprano/Alto (F3 – F5)
|
| Motel Kamzoil: |
An impoverished tailor and secretly pledged to Tzeitel, Motel gathers the
courage to ask Tevye for her hand
in
marriage. He feels “even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness.” They marry and start a family, which
also
includes the “new arrival” of a sewing machine. Vocal Range: Strong Tenor (E3 - F#4)
|
| Perchik: |
A radical student from Kiev and later Hodel’s husband, Perchik leaves Anatevka
to work for the revolution
in
Kiev. He is arrested and sent to prison in Siberia. Vocal Range: Tenor (B2 – E4) Lazar Wolf: A rich butcher,
widower of Fruma-Sarah, and the man Yente the matchmaker sets as a match for Tzeitel. Vocal Range: Baritone
(C3
– F#4) |
| Grandma Tzeitel: |
Golde’s deceased grandmother who appears as a ghost in the Dream Sequence. She
has a great solo in which
she
endorses the marriage of Tzeitel to Motel. Vocal Range: Mezzo/Alto (C#4 – D5) |
| Fruma-Sarah: |
Lazar Wolf’s dead wife who appears as a ghost in the dream sequence to warn
Tevye and Golde not to allow
Tzeitel to marry her husband or dire results will befall the family. Vocal Range: Mezzo/Alto (C4 – Eb5) |
| Fyedka: |
A Russian soldier who falls in love with Chava, Tevye’s third oldest daughter.
He and Chava elope because Tevye cannot accept this total break in Jewish tradition. |
|
Ensemble:
|
Mordcha: An innkeeper;
Rabbi: Anatevka’s Jewish spiritual leader; Mendel: The Rabbi’s son; Constable: A local Russian
official, the constable, though he has a good relationship with Tevye, follows his orders to perform an
“unofficial demonstration” during Tzeitel and Motel’s wedding, and then forces all the Jewish villagers to
leave Anatevka;
Avram: A bookseller;
Nahum: A begger;
Sasha: Fyedka’s friend;
Shandel: Motel’s mother;
Yussel: A hatter;
Villagers of Anatevka, as Mamas, Papas, Sons or Daughters; Russian soldiers; and (of course)
The Fiddler
|