If you haven’t been, the Candlelight Theatre is one of those Delaware experiences you must check off your list and once you do, you will want to come back again and again. Tucked away down a windy road in picturesque Ardentown, the Candelight Theatre is a hidden gem.
Their current production, The Fiddler on the Roof, will be showing through November 2nd.
I had the pleasure of seeing the show last Friday and boy was it a treat! I personally had never been to The Candelight Theatre but I will definitely be back! When you enter, it is like being transported back in time, the 150 plus year old barn is full of charm. Each show includes a superb buffet dinner consisting of three courses of home-cooked favorites such as shrimp cocktail, salad, roasted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and a variety of options for dessert. Personally, I chose the banana cream pie (Yum!) There are even options for all those vegetarians out there.
The wait-staff consists of the actors and actresses in the production, making the service one-of-a-kind. Our waitress, Cindy Zern, played Shandel, was phenomenal and very attentive. There is a cash bar full of options as well.
Now, let me get to the important part…the musical! David T. Wills played Teyve, and his wit and charm were perfectly on point (He got quite a few belly-laughs out of me!) David’s character portrayal was spot on. His ability to transfer between a serious aside to God straight into a musical number was brilliant. The struggle of a father trying to keep tradition alive and well within his family and community while his daughters break tradition, his land is taken out from under him, and he is forced to accept changes he never dreamt possible is a feeling very few of us have in our own lives but David was exceptionally effective at capturing the audience and personally investing us in the play. Bravo!
Watching Gerri Weagraff who played Golde, it was extremely apparent that this was not her first rodeo. This is her seventh time performing in the production and her love for the show shines through. Golde and Teyve perfectly portrayed the long married couple.
Marissa Barnathan played Hodel, and her acting as well as singing really stood out. Both my husband and I were really impressed with her talent. You could really tell this group not only was passionate about the show, but for their cast mates as well. Even little Julia Miller, a 2nd grader who played Bielke, was perfectly on point with her dance moves and extremely engaging.
This was also my first time seeing the classic, and it always strikes me when an older production is so relevant today. The importance of tradition, family ties and accepting change is a lesson we all could use a little reminder of.
After seeing the production of The Fiddler on the Roof at The Candlelight Theatre, I certainly hope both the venue and play continue to live on and on for future generations to enjoy- because it was an amazing experience! With all the craziness going on in my life (and I am sure you could all relate!) I had forgotten the extreme joy I get from the tradition of watching a live show. It was like a vacation and a perfect escape from the chaos of the 21st century. Like they say in the show- “Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.”
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Click HERE to find out more about New Candlelight’s current production of Fiddler on the Roof!