Review: ‘Tevye in New York!’ at Theatre West

Tom Dugan in "Tevye in New York!" at Theatre West (Photo by JP Hubbell)

The beloved Tevye from Sholom Aleichem’s many short stories, and most famously from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” returned to the stage at Theatre West this month. Writer and actor Tom Dugan showed us what becomes of Tevye after the events of “Fiddler.”

It’s Fourth of July morning, 1914, and Tevye is entertaining his New York neighbors as they wait for his family to arrive from Ellis Island. As his two daughters wait for the third to arrive with her husband and son, they keep the anxious Tevye informed by calling him on their cutting edge “telephone machine.”

To pass the time, Tevye regales his neighbors with tales from the “old country,” about his daughters, his business, and his highs and lows with luck.

Dugan’s Tevye is older than one might remember from “Fiddler,” but he is no less full of life. With the entire show resting on the shoulders of its sole performer, Dugan handled the pressure with ease. Tevye’s stories are a bit rambling, intertwined with each other as he recalls more details, yet the intention in Dugan’s performance was plain for all to see. For close to 90 minutes, Tevye felt as real and natural as anyone in the audience.  

The stage was sparsely decorated with the trappings of a small store in 1914 — a table, a wooden box, a coat rack, and a small stand with the telephone machine. Dugan and director JP Hubbell cleverly use the objects as props for Tevye’s many stories, making the show dynamic despite few theatrical elements.

Dugan’s rendition of Tevye is faithful to the film while adding depth and shades of commentary about the “modern” world. The show is full of laughs alongside heartfelt moments. Fans of "Fiddler on the Roof” will enjoy hearing more about the characters they know and love, though “Tevye in New York!” is a show that is just as lovely even for those not familiar with the musical. 

“Tevye in New York!” performed on July 19 and 20 at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles.