Fiddler on the Roof at MLOC
MLOC Productions Inc presents Fiddler on the Roof as their first feature musical following pandemic lockdowns that saw Melbourne theatre come to a halt.
First established as the Mordialloc Philharmonic Society in 1945, MLOC operated as a choral society until the 1970s when they rebranded as Mordialloc Musical Society. The society then began staging full musical comedy productions in 1961 with Brigadoon.
Since opening its doors 78 years ago, MLOC has produced light opera, musicals and plays, and has been nominated for and received an impressive number of Music Theatre Guild of Victoria awards. Notably, five were awarded to their 2018 production of Spring Awakening, including the coveted ‘Production of the Year’ award.
Over 100 musical productions later, MLOC, one of Melbourne’s oldest community theatre associations, a non-for-profit organisation with charity status, is staging one of their biggest productions yet, with a cast of over 40 and a unique partnership with Melbourne Ukrainian Cossack dancing academy, The Lehenda School.
Despite MLOC’s history and presence in Melbourne’s theatre scene, this is the first time they have produced Fiddler on the Roof. The show's directors (Adrian and Sarah Glaubert) are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the nine-time Tony Award winning musical to life.
They join forces with Kent Ross, the Resident Conductor of Casey Philharmonic Orchestra, who is no stranger to musical theatre having conducted close to 30 different shows, and will lead the orchestra as they play a score including ‘Matchmaker’, ‘Sunrise Sunset’ and ‘To Life’. Bridie Clark completes the team as co-choreographer, bringing her experiences and knowledge straight from the stages on Broadway where she spent most of the past decade.
An operatic tenor, director Adrian Glaubert once graced the opera houses of Europe as a leading tenor in hundreds of operas. Now, married to Sarah and with two children, he commits his love and passion for theatre to teaching and directing. Whilst this is the first production of Fiddler on the Roof Adrian has directed, he is an established director and vocal coach with an impressive list of shows under his belt, from The Gondoliers and its frivolity, to the heart-wrenching Cavalleria Rusticana.
Co-director Sarah Glaubert most recently oversaw the world premiere of Dick Gross’ Australian musical comedy, Not Finished With You Yet, as Production Executive. She is also the Assistant Director of The Lehenda School and an alumnus of the Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company, touring with them nationally and internationally.
Fiddler is very special to the couple, having performed the roles of Golde and Tevye alongside each other in 2017. Now those roles will be brought to life by Joshua Balbin and Elisa Gray (Yellow Cast) and Lara Stein Wittels and Tim Maloney (Blue Cast), with violinist David Hanner performing the titular role of the Fiddler, playing many of the show’s melodies from the stage.
Cantor Greg Hurvitz makes his theatrical debut as the unlucky Lazar Wolf, alongside seasoned MLOC performers including Nick Stefaniw and Gabi Bergman. MLOC newcomers Jodie Silberthau, Eliana Morris, Georgia and Madison Vasiljevic and Noa Coates play some of Tevye's daughters.
Realising the significance of the production and how important it is to so many performers, the directors made the decision to double-cast the leading roles:
“For so many, Fiddler on the Roof is a bucket list show. The role of Tevye is perhaps one of the most demanding male roles in the theatrical canon, not just musically, but emotionally. It felt only right that we gave as many people the opportunity to tell this timeless story, and we are so overwhelmed with the talent of the cast and the depth of understanding they bring to their roles.”
For this production only, MLOC has collaborated with The Lehenda School, Australia’s largest Ukrainian dancing school. Set in The Pale of Settlement (pockets of land in and around Ukraine where the Tsar permitted Jews to live), Fiddler on the Roof is known for its Cossack and Bottle dancing. These scenes, amongst others, will feature senior students from The Lehenda School, including recently arrived refugees from war torn Ukraine.
MLOC highlights the fact that sadly, the story of Fiddler on the Roof continues to be told to this day. In 1905, the Jews of Anatevka were forced out of their homeland. Now in 2023, native Ukrainians (including some of the cast) have fled their war torn country.
“There is a reason that Fiddler on the Roof is currently being revived around the world, and that is because of the uncanny similarities to what is happening in Ukraine. We, the cast and crew at MLOC, stand with Ukraine, we stand with displaced people around the world, and we stand for the basic human right to live peacefully and safely and to practise culture and religion without fear.”
MLOC promises audiences can “expect to experience the full range of human emotions” with their Fiddler on the Roof. From its ensemble numbers and Cossack dancing, to its depiction of aggression and fear, MLOC promise that their production will tell the story of family, faith and facing prejudice in a way you have never seen before and with a cast that will leave you with tears of joy and sadness.
Fiddler on the Roof is on at The Alex Theatre in St Kilda from the 2nd to 13th of August.
Tickets start at $35 and can be bought at Fiddler on the Roof Tickets, Alex Theatre, St Kilda | TryBooking Australia
Established in 1945 MLOC Productions Inc is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. For more information see www.mloc.org.au
Photographer: Bridie Clark
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