OHS Celebrates 100th Theatre Show with "Fiddler on the Roof" Tonight

Peyton Schiller, centered, surrounded by cast members in an opening scene of Fiddler on the Roof

Oxford High School Theatre Department brings “Fiddler on the Roof” to the stage for Director John Davenport’s 100th show.

“Last year, when we were deciding on this season, it just happened that the February show would be my 100th,” Davenport said. “I thought, well, we will go back to old-style, big musical and do ‘Fiddler’ because it’s my favorite.”
Davenport chose the musical, not only because it’s his favorite, but he believes it’s one of the most relatable pieces, especially for today’s society.
“I think this story is so relevant today, and that’s what makes this piece so timeless and classic,” he said.
Davenport said it doesn’t even matter how often someone’s seen “Fiddler.” Each time this play is performed for fans, it’s is just as powerful as it was the first time. 
“Every time you see it, you are a little older and little wiser,” Davenport said. “You have lived more life experiences.”
The first time you might have seen the show, a certain character might have resonated with you, Davenport explained.
“If you see it again now, and you haven’t seen it or watched it in 10 years, there’s going to be something that resonates with you that didn’t before,” he said.
Centered around family, “Fiddler on the Roof” tells a story about parents trying to keep family values and beliefs while raising their children in an ever-changing world and society, Davenport noted.
“It’s more about the changes in life and society,” Davenport said. “It’s about what has to change for the next generation in order to keep those values and beliefs going.”
Senior Peyton Schiller plays the lead role of Tevye, the father, in the musical. He has been a part of the theatre department since his sophomore year.
“I audition for all of them [the shows], but it was Davenport’s 100th show,” Schiller said. ”I really wanted this lead because I felt like I was perfect for this role.”
Once Schiller snagged a leading role, he could hardly contain his excitement.
“I was so happy,” he said. “He [Davenport] sent it to me through a text before anyone else knew their parts.”
At first, Schiller thought his role was just a mere “cartoon.”
“Once we started getting into [rehearsals], I realized this was a real person that I am portraying,” Schiller said. “Everything he does has a reason, and it was a lot harder than I initially thought it was going to be.”
Evelyn Smith, a senior at OHS, landed the lead of Golde, Teyve’s wife.
“I auditioned for my first show my freshman year,” Smith said. “‘Fiddler on the Roof’ will be my 14th show, and [I’ve been] to Scotland to do the Fringe Festival, as well.”
Typically, being happy with any part she would receive after an audition, Smith was running for the role of Golde.
“I was like, ‘I really, really want to be Golde,” Smith said. “It’s out of my comfort zone and typically, I play younger characters, but I was up for the challenge.”
Smith wanted to master Golde’s physicality first to start the character development process.
“I actually came to a couple of rehearsals wearing ankle weights,” she said. “I thought it would weigh me down and keep me grounded because I tend to have very youthful arms and gestures.”
After hammering down Golde’s physicality, Smith believed the vocal dialogue would follow soon behind.
“She [Golde] is kind of like the backbone of the family, as I like to see it, as most mothers are,” Smith said. “She is just super strong, and everything the family goes through affects her differently.”
“Fiddler on the Roof” opens Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The musical will be showed on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., as well. Tickets are available here: https://squareup.com/store/ohs-theatre/.

By Talbert Toole, associate editor of HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com.