“A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn’t easy. You may ask ‘Why do we stay up there if it’s so dangerous?’ Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!” (Fiddler on the Roof)
These are the famous first lines of Tevye, the father to three daughters looking to shackle from the traditions of marriage followed by their Jewish Russian parents. Fiddler on the Roof is one of the most cherished and revered productions of all time, Fiddler On The Roof, is known for its unique early-20th-century setting with Tsarist Russia.
Relatable Themes and Lessons of Life
First presented at the Imperial Theater in New York City on September 22, 1965, Fiddler follows the story of a family from Anatevka, a village in Russia in 1905, and how their lives are changing as traditions and perspectives are changing in their world and, closer to home, in their family.
Despite the age of this musical, most viewers can relate to the relationships between Tevye and his wife and Tevye and his maturing daughters. We can all relate to the pull of love and how nothing can keep two people who love each other apart.
Create a Russian Setting
In order to create the setting of pre-revolution Tzarist Russia, Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has many backdrop rentals to complement this historically unique setting. Here are just a few examples of Russian villages, farmland, rolling hills, town streets, and many more.
Russian Villages
To create the sense of living in the early 1900s, prior to the Russian Revolution, backdrops can show the harsh living conditions faced by many Russians at the time including villages that have been forgotten by the government and a view of the struggle that Tevye has in wanting to marry his daughters off to a man who will not let his dear girls starve to death.
This Distant Village Backdrop #2557 shows a view of a distant village through trees and across a meadow with a translucent sky.
This Tavern Interior Backdrop #2502 shows a rustic tavern interior with a stone fireplace, tables, wooden barrels, hunting trophies, and wagon wheel chandeliers.
For settings requiring a broad look at a Russian village this Village Tab Backdrop #2399 shows a rustic, run-down village street.
For a full list of our Fiddler on the Roof backdrops please visit our website and view our show pages.
