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Topol misses two more ‘Fiddler’ performances

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Chaim Topol’s physical struggles returned Sunday as he missed both performances of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at the Pantages Theatre.

The 73-year-old star had missed the previous Sunday’s matinee because he was under the weather and now has failed to go on as Tevye in three of the 16 performances since the touring production opened its three-week L.A. run on July 21.

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Wayne McWorter, spokesman for the Broadway/L.A. series at the Pantages, said Topol was at the theater before Sunday’s matinee but decided about 40 minutes before curtain time that he wasn’t up to performing. The process repeated in the evening, with the name-above-the-title performer coming to the theater, then opting not to go on, as his understudy, David Brummel, stepped in.

McWorter said he didn’t know the nature of Topol’s ailment, and officials of the tour’s producer, Troika Entertainment, could not be reached late Monday afternoon. Billed as Topol’s ‘farewell tour’ as Tevye, the engagement has eight more performances at the Pantages, Tuesday through Sunday, then moves to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa for 16 performances, Aug. 11-23.


The Pantages issued 22 refunds for the Sunday evening performance and exchanged 114 tickets held by people willing to try again this week in hopes of seeing Topol, McWorter said. He didn’t have exact numbers for the matinee but said the refunds and exchanges were ‘considerably less’ than for the evening show.

The tour began Jan. 20, according to an itinerary on the production’s website; McWorter said Topol had missed just one performance prior to its arrival in L.A.

-- Mike Boehm

related stories:

Topol misses ‘Fiddler’ matinee Sunday at Pantages

It’s tradition: Topol is Tevye

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