Tony Mastroianni Review Collection
Hail the "Fiddler" -- deserving champ
Cleveland Press July 14, 1971
The thing about "Fiddler on the Roof" setting a record is that it couldn't happen to a nicer show.
"Fiddler" will become the longest running musical on Broadway next Wednesday with its 2845th performance. It will top "Hello, Dolly!" -- a show that set a record through a combination of smart showmanship, sharp publicity and the willingness of producer David Merrick to keep it going even when it had to play at cut rate ticket prices.
"Fiddler" is infinitely superior and has gone merrily along without the aid of big names or gimmicks.
IT SEEMS that before long everyone will have seen "Fiddler."
The movie version will open here at the Colony Dec. 14. It stars Israeli performer Topol who originally did the show in London. The London production is in its fifth season.
The summer is being filled with "Fiddler" productions. Musicarnival opened its season with Robert Merrill doing it,the Kenley Players offer it July 20 with Jan Pearce, Canal Fulton will offer it with Shelley Berman also on July 20 and WEWS' Earl Keyes is growing a handsome beard so that he can play Tevye in the Berea Summer Theater presentation beginning Aug. 18
THE CONTINENTAL Theater will offer a world premiere Friday evening with the presentation of "Speeding Up Time." Proceeds will be for the benefit of the East Cleveland Scholarship Fund.
The movie is described as a portrayal of black America today and the black revolution.
The film's writer, producer and director is John Evans, a 35-year-old black film maker who has made several documentaries and who will be at the Continental for the premiere. Evans lives in Los Angeles. The movie was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
SHORT SUBJECTS -- Several callers have complained that the "Carnal Knowledge" ads imply that Mike Nichols is in the movie. Nichols produced and directed, indicated in fine print around the end of the art which you have to tip sideways to read. His name also appears first in the list of performers. He definitely is not one of the performers.
"Diamonds Are Forever," the newest James Bond picture, will open in Cleveland and elsewhere Dec. 18. This is the one in which Sean Connery returns to the 007 role.
20th-Century Fox, which got into financial troubles with such heavily budgeted pictures as "Tora! Tora! Tora!," "Star" and "Hello Dolly" is ready to peddle them to television.
