For Your Eyes Only`s Topol back on the stage

The Israeli actor who has played the role of a poor Russian-Jewish farmer for 30 years is back in New Zealand - reports News Talk

The stage production of Fiddler on the Roof has been playing in Wellington and now begins performances in Auckland.

The lead actor known as Topol says it is an emotional piece of work and not only for the actors. He says the audience can be laughing one moment and then sobbing the next. The story is about farmer Tevye who tries to maintain his family and religious traditions while the world around him rapidly changes with Jews forced off their land by a pogrom.

Topol's younger daughter once played the part of one of his stage daughters. He says that was very emotional.

"In my private life, I never raised my voice. Then suddenly, in the play, there is a scene where I hold her by the shoulders and shake her and say 'no! Never talk about it again!' and tears came to her eyes - and she was really terrified. It affected me and we both cried like two children."

Despite his long run with Fiddler on the Roof, Topol has also been in numerous movies and played Milos Columbo in the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only.

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