Fiddler on the Roof, Original Broadway Cast

Bock, Jerry and Sheldon Harnick

album cover

All the Riches, Baby, Don't Mean Anything

When Gwen Stefani, the lead singer of the rock band No Doubt, took a solo turn in 2005, she launched it with a role-reversing remake of "If I Were a Rich Man," this musical's most familiar tune. The update was set to a vaguely Middle Eastern beat, and added a refrain ("All the riches, baby, don't mean anything") as well as a gold-digging rap manifesto from Stefani's frequent collaborator, Eve.

It was a stroke of genius, the rare instance of a song from ancient history (well, 1964) commenting trenchantly on the modern world: As Tevye, the wise milkman played by Zero Mostel (1915–1977) in this original Broadway cast version, knew, everybody everywhere spends at least some time chasing the bling. Stefani's peers might want to investigate more of the songs Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick wrote for this Broadway evergreen: They're sharp appraisals of human nature propelled by spry, memorable melodies. There are breathless expressions of hope ("Matchmaker, Matchmaker") and near-frantic dances ("Wedding Celebration/The Bottle Dance"), and meditations on the cycle of life ("Sunrise, Sunset") that feel sullen and rhapsodic at once.

These and other tunes help to tell the story of Tevye and his three daughters, who marry for love and not riches—that oldest of storytelling devices. Set in a closely knit Jewish community, the musical tells of life in the days before the formation of Israel, when Jews weren't surprised when they had to leave their villages on short notice. One recurring insight has to do with the way traditions hold a culture together, particularly when that culture is as precarious as a fiddler on the roof.

As handled by the original Broadway cast, this Fiddler is a spry creation, informed by a zest for life and a parallel understanding of its cruelties. Mostel is the main draw. His crisp diction and casual yet idiomatic phrasing light up Tevye's every line; by the time he finishes his vivid "If I Were a Rich Man," you know his character intimately. According to legend, Mostel was a terror on stage, sometimes improvising different lines or stopping entirely to provide the audience with sports scores. This performance, with its quaint wisdom and winking lightness, suggests he was more than worth the trouble.

Genre: Musicals
Released: 1964, RCA
Key Tracks: "If I Were a Rich Man," "Sunrise, Sunset."
Catalog Choice: She Loves Me
Next Stop: Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby
After That: Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion: Man of La Mancha, Original Broadway Cast.
Book Pages: 100–101