Fiddler on the Roof. A classic musical about love and loyalty to family, change, values and … traditions. I will admit I was not overly excited to see this show for a third time but from the moment Maine State Music Theatre's Tevya (Bill Nolte) made his appearance I had an uneasy feeling seeing this show again might not be so bad. By the time Nolte and and company finished singing “Tradition,” the first song of the show, I knew the production wasn't just going to be “not so bad” — it was going to be fantastic.

“Tradition” is the song that introduces audiences to the residents of Anatevka, Russia. Nolte is a natural in the role of Tevya, and I wasn't surprised to find out the actor has played the character a few times before.

Tevya and his wife Golde (Susan Cella) want the best for their five daughters, particularly the older three who are, or will soon be, of marrying age. Tevya is a poor dairy farmer/milkman. He and Golde work very hard to keep the family's bonds to one another and to God strong. This Jewish family keeps the Sabbath, In Anatevka, marriage matches are made by the official matchmaker, Yente (Chris Leos). Weddings are not about love, but survival — with the hope love will grow in time.

But times are changing in Anatevka, and all across Russia. This is 1904, pre-revolution, and life is about to change drastically not only for these townspeople, but all Russians in January of 1905. Life, as Tevya tells the audience at the outset, is as precarious as a fiddler on the roof. As the musical moves forward, the country outside of his own village is not the only facet of Tevya's life that is troubling; traditions that helped hold their world together seem to be slipping away beginning with his daughters.

Tevya learns from Avram the bookstore owner, of the violence against Jews outside their little village. What is happening to their country? Isn't life hard enough already? A young man, Perchik, happens by and overhears the conversation. He asks the men what they are going to do about it. Shouldn't they do something? Fight back, maybe? Avram dismisses Perchik as a radical. But Tevya asks student Perchik to join the family for the Sabbath meal. Tevya also offers him room and board if Perchik will tutor his two younger daughters.

Yente comes to see Golde to tell her she has a match for her eldest daughter, Tzeitel (Rachel Rhodes-Devey). The match is a much older man, Lazar Wolf, the town butcher. Unbeknownst to her parents, Tzeitel is in love with the tailor's son, Motel (Aaron Galligan-Stierle). Not only are they in love, but they pledged themselves to each other the year before. The only reason Motel had not asked for Tzeitel's hand is he's a poor tailor. Tzeitel freaks when Golde tells her of this match to the butcher. She tells Motel that he must propose.

The deal is sealed by Tevya and the butcher in the local bar over many, many, many drinks. Whenever Tevya is considering the pros and cons of one of his daughter's suitors, everyone else on stage freezes with a spotlight on Tevya as he works things out aloud. No, he doesn't really like the butcher, yes, he is much older than his 20-ish daughter, but — she will never starve. Done. The musical number, “To Life!” is spirited (no pun intended … really) — with fantastic choreography.

Tevya and the others from the bar meet Russian soldiers and Anatevka's constable as they stagger home from the bar. The constable tells Tevya that a “demonstration” (code for violence against Jews) is going to occur, soon, and although he is fond of Tevya and has sympathy for the Jewish community, there is nothing he can do to stop it.

The next day Tzeitel begs, literally begs, her heavily hungover father not to make her marry Lazar Wolf. She tells him about Motel. She tells her father “I love him.” Tevya, being the softhearted man he is, has a “spotlight moment” that comes up in favor of Motel … but how will he tell Golde, never mind Lazar Wolf?!

This is one charming scene: Tevya is in bed with Golde who is sleeping. Tevya is not. He has to tell Golde for soon the entire village will know (that small town telephone game thing). And what an idea he has: he will pretend to be waking up from a nightmare in which Golde's long dead grandmother comes to him in a dream to give her blessing for Tzeitel's wedding — to Motel, not the butcher! As he relates this dream to Golde, she slowly wakes from her slumber and becomes frantic — it's a sign!

Director/choreographer Gary John LaRosa created a magical dream sequence featuring the great grandmother (who must've been 14 feet high if she was an inch) accompanied by ghosts of other ancestors. This scene had more than a few people leaning forward in their seats.

Tzeitel and Motel's wedding day arrives — a lovely scene. The couple under the chuppa (a Jewish wedding canopy) symbolizing the home the newlyweds will have. There is a lovely floral decorated partition between the male and female guests — no dancing together is permitted — it is considered immodest.

The Bottle Dancers (Philip Colgan, Giovanni DiGabriele, Alex Dorst and Kyle Laing) during the wedding reception  was mesmerizing — another instance of audience members leaning forward and arching their necks to watch the amazing performance, not breathing or moving as if doing so would cause the bottles to fall. And they do. But only at the end of the dance. Bravo!

But, with Lazar Wolf a guest at the nuptials, the expected argument about the broken agreement between he and Tevya comes to a head. The heated quarrel is stopped when, horror of horrors, Perchik (Ben Michael) crosses the partition and extends his hand to the youngest of Tevya and Golde's daughters, Hodel (Siri Howard) for a dance. Silence descends followed by gasps as Hodel accepts Perchik's invitation. Soon, however, many of the other guests join them — including Tevya and Golde.

The “demonstration” Tevya and the men were warned about puts an end to the merriment and the reception.

Tzeitel is married – Motel did ask for her hand, but only after they had already pledged themselves; Chava has fallen for Fyedka, the young man who protected her from others with bad intent. Fyedka and Chava elope after Tevya forbids them to marry, and Hodel and Perchik come before Tevya to ask for his blessing, not his permission. Tradition seems to be fading from their lives, Tevya thinks the young have no use for tradition and the world has lost all reason.

The performances in this show are top notch from Tevya to the Rabbi (Bev Appleton), another accomplished performer who demonstrates how memorable a bit part can be, to the fiddler, Ernest Sauceda.

Yes, it seems the third time was the charm — MSMT's production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” is not to be missed.

The show runs through Aug. 6. Call the box office at 725-8769. The production goes up at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin campus, 1 Bath Road, Brunswick.