Andrew Hendrick talks modernizing a classic in “Fiddler on the Roof”

“Fiddler on the Roof,” the classic story of a Jewish community grappling with the changing times, upholding the idea of tradition and oppression in their small, Russian village, has been told for over 50 years. However, the American Theatre Guild touring company of “Fiddler on the Roof” still engages with audiences as if it was a story written yesterday.

“Fiddler on the Roof” makes its stop at the Morris Performing Arts Center for one weekend from February 3-5.

Andrew Hendrick plays Lazar Wolf in this touring company, the widowed butcher of the town who is a sought after bachelor for the matchmaking process the young women in the village are subjected to. While he is originally matched with Tzeitel, Tevye’s oldest daughter, her love with her childhood best friend, Motel, gets in the way. While he is not one of the main family members with many storylines, Hendrick works to bring humanity to the character.

“I try to find places in the show where I can show he's actually a really good person,” Hendrick said. “Those are things I have either been given by the director or found when working with the director over the course of the show. I think it's important to bring some of myself to the role and I think part of that is to try and add kindness.”

One moment in the show where Hendrick emphasizes Lazar Wolf’s true character is when Tzeitel and Motel’s wedding is destroyed by the Russian police as a form of oppression. Lazar Wolf positions himself inbetween the couple and the police, standing in solidarity with a wedding that was supposed to be his. Hendrick said that this shows that while he was disappointed in the outcome of his match, Lazar Wolf still sticks to his roots of community and compassion towards all villagers of Anatevka.

Using his nine years of touring company acting, Hendrick is able to characterize the roles he plays with subtle moments of humanity that fit the theme of the show such as the empathy displayed by his character.

With this experience in touring, Hendrick loves to perform classic shows in a way that makes it different for every audience in every city that the company stops at.

Hendrick explained that while “Fiddler on the Roof” is a classic, the story has proved to be shockingly relevant to now. Hendrick said that with the current events happening in Russia, with Jewish people being forced out of their homes to this day in Russia, the story is just as impactful as it was 50 years ago.

“It's wonderful being part of a classic because we get to be a part of something that so many people know and love, but we also get to put a new spin on it and let the audience see the show in a way that they perhaps never seen it before, even if they've seen the show 20 times,” Hendrick said.

With this importance, the touring company has made an effort to honor these struggles happening internationally. Every night, the performance ends with a dedication to the people of Ukraine and those displaced by the war in Russia. To Hendrick, this announcement concretely displays the importance of portraying these characters today.

While the emotional aspects of the show are the heart in every performance, Hendrick loves that his character gets to be intrical in the comedic aspects. His favorite moments include his comedic scenes with Tevye as well as the large dance number for “To Life.”

“You've had a good time, you've laughed, we've enjoyed ourselves, but we also are getting to the meat of what this thing is,” Hendrick said. “It's going to teach us the lesson that it needs to teach us and it's going to show us what we need to know about humanity.”

Hendrick emphasized that the importance of these performances and others coming to see “Fiddler on the Roof” lies in the education of Jewish oppression and having a piece of art like this musical honor that history as well as show the love and humor that lies beyond the trauma of the real people who suffered for the inspiration of this story.

“Thematically, it's a reminder of how important it is to understand and know the history of Judaism,” Hendrick said. “What's happening to people today is the same as what was happening to people when the show was written. I think it's a good reminder of that and audiences definitely will learn something.”