Thousands of theater-goers stood in three lines for hours last night, seeking admission to the Imperial Theatre here, where a musical based on Sholom Aleichem’s Works “Tevya the Dairyman,” opened on the previous evening, evoking the most unprecedented praise ever voiced for a play on a Jewish theme produced on Broadway.
The winning musical, entitled “Fiddler on the Roof, ” stars the noted actor Zero Mostel as “Tevya,” and has a large cast which includes other well-known actors. It conveys very successfully and with abounding humor the life portrayed by Sholom Aleichem, the world-famous Jewish humorist, of the Jews in the small towns in Russia under the Czar. Mr. Mostel is extremely good in his role, and is ably supported by the cast. Critics predicted today that “Fiddler on the Roof” will be one of the most successful plays of the year on Broadway.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.