FIDDLING WITH THE WORDS: HOW SOCIAL COMMUNITY INSPIRES CREATIVITY

by Kim Marvel

This story is about three occasions when my wife and I performed for an audience. My wife is an accomplished singer. Me? Far from it. And though we are introverts, we summoned the courage to step on the stage together.

We sang music from Fiddler on the Roof. The well-known musical, composed in 1964, includes iconic songs such as Sunrise, Sunset; Matchmaker; and Tradition. In the story, Tevye and his wife Golde navigate life’s many hardships and the challenge of raising three daughters. In our case, we modified the lyrics to match our living situation at the time and to lighten the atmosphere with some humor. The performances occurred in years 5, 28, and 37 of our marriage.

Early in our marriage we taught for two years in American Samoa, a small island midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. We learned so much more than our students! We came to appreciate the welcoming nature of Samoans, how the extended family is valued, and how tradition provides guidance to daily life. Annually, long-term island guests conduct a fun talent show for the public. Skits, songs, and stories highlight the hilarious situations that occur when uptight, task-oriented foreigners enter the world of the laid back, relaxed lifestyle of the Samoan culture. At the end of our second year, as we prepared to return to the mainland, we volunteered to perform in the talent show. As shown in the photo, my wife held our newborn son (who is now 45!) From Fiddler on the Roof, we borrowed from the final scene when the people of the small town of Anatevka are reluctantly moving out of their familiar surroundings. We, too, were soon to leave Pago Pago (rhymes with Song-o Song-o.) Rather than singing the original lyrics “Anatevka, Anatevka, underfed, overworked Anatevka…” we rearranged the wording, starting with “Pago Pago, Pago Pago, overfed, underworked Pago Pago, where I know everyone I meet…” We all laughed at the revised words while, at the same time, recognizing that we had learned that Fa’a Samoa (“the Samoan way”) is a valuable and healthy counterbalance to the achievement-oriented, fast-paced lifestyle to which we were accustomed.

The summer of our 28th year of marriage found us at my parents’ mountain cabin. We were replacing the worn-out wooden deck. It was a group project involving about 15 members of our extended family and friends. The work was condensed into four days - our version of old-time barn-raising. One evening, when the project was near completion, we gathered to share stories, poems, and music; to reflect on our successes and failures; to relax and laugh. Once again we performed a song from Fiddler (Sunrise, Sunset) with modified lyrics to fit the situation. “Sunrise, Sunset, Sunrise, Sunset, swiftly flow the years…” became “Tear down, old deck, build a, new deck, swiftly pound the nails…”

More recently, during our 37th year of marriage, our church was holding the annual talent show. Congregational members are invited to perform before an appreciative crowd. From Fiddler, we selected the duet “Do You Love Me?” This time we kept the original lyrics except for changing the names (Golde became Connie; Tevye became Kim.) Kim: “Do you love me?” Connie: “You’re a fool!” Kim: “I know, but do you love me?...”

Memories of our amateur performances still bring a smile. We are indebted to Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick who composed the timeless music and lyrics of Fiddler on the Roof. We hope they didn’t role over in their graves when we modified their lyrics.

In retrospect, an important common denominator in all three performances was the supportive people – the community – around us. For performers, amateurs especially, encouragement from our social community is vital. Being connected with others with whom we share a common purpose or history is important in all aspects of our lives, not just performances. Research has shown the health and emotional benefits of belonging to a social group. From our experience, community support is foundational for creativity. Such communities can form quickly, like the group spirit that develops during a week-long Celebrations trip when strangers become close friends. Other communities, such as people we’ve known since our school years, can be life-long. Whether short-term or long-term, community enables us to trust, relax, be more creative, and to step on the stage.

In the final scene of the play, Tevye, pointing to a sole figure balanced on a nearby rooftop with fiddle in hand, exclaims, “Without tradition, our lives would be as shaky as… as… a fiddler on the roof!” Along with tradition, I’ll add “community” to that statement.