Tevye

Who did Bea Arthur play in Fiddler on the Roof?

Tevye the Matchmaker.

No, not Tevye.

Yenta the Matchmaker.

Who sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States? Bea Arthur.

And now he's taking on one of musical theater's most beloved characters.

Troy Sussman is currently starring as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at Sydney's Theatre Royal, a role that demands enormous heart, humor, humanity and, of course, a magnificent voice.

I'm delighted that he's our featured guest today on Stages.

[upbeat music] As one relaxes into the run, I think, "Gee, why couldn't it have been like this on opening night?"

... isn't it?

Yep.

Playing Tevye in this revival of Fiddler on the Roof, playing at the Theatre Royal at the moment, before a national tour.

Absolutely.

Go ahead.

What's one word in Hebrew for that? Or if you want to be Tevye, you could sing it.

Masorah.

We have a Masorah of 39.

And who better to give us the wisdom of the ages than Solomon? Much of it I'm sure was written by others as well.

But to understand, well I'll put it this way, for me perhaps the best example of what this book is all about is if you've ever seen Fiddler on the Roof and good old Tevye who's wandering around and he always seems to say, as the good book says, and then he'll quote something that the good book never said.

But it sounds biblical because it's words of wisdom.

And so he'll say things like, as the good book says, if you spit in the air it lands in your face.

But it is pretty good counsel.

So don't spit in the air, okay? And so we are going to be spending a lot of time in things that the good book actually does say.

But they're along the lines of what Tevye gave us as far as those words of wisdom are concerned.

And if your grandpa on the porch swing or if your mom or dad has ever said things like this, then you're well prepared for a study of the book of Proverbs.

Yeah.

We've got Chess, My Fair Lady, Aspects of Love, Guys and Dolls, Sweeney Todd, Honk, Fiddler on the Roof, where you played Tevye.

Again, another iconic role.

The Sound of Music, as you mentioned.

It's easy for me to rationalize the things for which I pray.

The song If I Were a Rich Man from the musical Fiddler on the Roof is a prayer sung by Tevye.

In it, he provides God with all the good reasons for making him rich, including, If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack.

to sit in the synagogue and pray, and maybe have a seat by the eastern wall, and I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men several hours every day, and that would be the sweetest thing of all.

Having more time to pray is a good thing, but by the song's end, Tevye submits to God's will, even if he gives one final request for wealth.

If I were a wealthy man? What Tevye didn't realize is that he was already praying continually throughout the day.

God had given him the faith, just without the earthly riches.

As Carmelites, we're called not just to pray, but to live a vocation of prayer.

There's a great line in Fiddler on the Roof where one of the boys who wants to marry one of the girls says, Money is the world's curse.

And Tevye, the main character, like runs out and says, may God strike me with it.

And may I never recover.

And I think most people would agree with that.