by AMY BARRATT

In Fiddler on the Roof, the three daughters of Tevye, each in their turn, defy their father's wishes: the eldest marries a poor tailor instead of the rich old butcher of her father's choosing, the second daughter hooks up with a revolutionary, and the third falls for a goy.

Tevye and his wife have two more daughters who are just children when the story takes place. I have always imagined that if the trend continued in the family, Shprintze would grow up lesbian and Bielke would probably be transsexual.

I got to thinking about this while watching Visiting Mr. Green last week at the Saidye. And that's as close as I'm going to come to revealing some key plot points, except to say that there's a little bit of Tevye in the octogenarian widower of the title.

Visiting Mr. Green, by Jeff Baron, has that Hallmark Hall of Fame feel that Saidye subscribers seem to so enjoy. Indeed, it has the conventional structure, strong realism and touching humanity that would seem to make it a shoo-in for a Pulitzer Prize. Surprisingly, it did not win one. It has, however, won several awards in Europe and Israel, and was presented in a reading at the United Nations. It is currently enjoying a production in Tokyo, which is proof that it has that coveted quality: universality.

The premise of the play is that Ross has been court-ordered to pay weekly visits to the codger he nearly ran over with his car. Neither man wants to have anything to do with the other at first, but we know how this plot goes: as time passes, guards are lowered and a friendship is forged.

The production is co-directed by Bill Glassco (of the dormant but not defunct Montreal Young Company) and Michael Shamata (former AD of Theatre New Brunswick and the Grand in London, Ont.). The doubling-up is a result of Glassco having to undergo throat cancer surgery early in the rehearsal process. He brought Shamata on board to help implement their common vision. Together, they have elicited almost effortless-seeming performances from the two actors in the piece: Bernie Passeltiner, a trouper who has seen lots of action on both sides of the 49th parallel, and local talent Adrian Burhop, who has shone in many indie productions and richly deserves this mainstage opportunity.

The show receives the appropriately realistic treatment from set designer Vincent Lefèvre, lighting designer Luc Prairie and costumer Ginette Grenier.

Fiddler fundraiser

And speaking of Fiddler on the Roof, the Saidye theatre is planning a fundraiser that promises to be fun by the ton for the well-healed set. In the same vein as Singalong Sound of Music, the theatre will present a karaoke Fiddler evening on May 25. There will be a real set and a live band, and selected scenes from the movie (basically, the songs) will be projected. The crowd will be encouraged to sing along, except for certain pre-assigned solos. A moment in the spotlight belting out "If I Were a Rich Man" can be purchased for a mere $1,800. Those who keep their seats will pay just $180. For information contact Katherine Candib at 739-2301.

Visiting Mr. Green runs through May 18 at the Saidye Bronfman Centre (5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine), $24–$38, tix: 739-7944

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