FROM the opening, where the cast walks through the auditorium onto the stage, to the haunting finale, this show was riveting.

Abergavenny Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society is fortunate to have West End director Ken Caswell in charge, and this polished performance reflects his immense talents and professionalism. He brought out the best in Rob Jenkins as the milkman Tevye so he really got into the part of the Jewish papa whose word is law at home – or is it with five daughters?

The cast managed to capture the very essence of a Jewish community just about eking out a living in Tsarist Russia at the turn of the 20th century. Rob’s rendition of If I Were a Rich Man was superb. He is better at slapstick than singing but this proves he is an all-rounder.

He was well supported by Jane Lewis as his wife, Golde, and Alicea Woods, Chelsea Viveash and Rhiannon Munro shone as their three elder daughters. Mollie Crombie and Amy Price played their delightful little sisters.

There were lovely cameo roles from Barrie Jackson as the Rabbi, Brenda Maloney as machmaker Yente and John Bannon as butcher Lazar Wolf, whose scene with Tevye when he asks to marry the eldest daughter over a drink or three was one of the funniest.

So was the resultant follow-up when impoverished tailor Motel (Patrick Callaghan) confesses he and said daughter are committed to each other.

The society has always had a strong chorus but this one excelled, thanks to musical director