convinced that the cantor
from Petach Tikva could do
it all. "They talked of me go-
ing for acting classes, but
(director) Steven Pimlott
told those in the Tel Aviv
company, 'Don't touch him. I
want him as is.' "
And if they didn't agree,
"Steve said, 'I'll put him in
the London production,' "
recalls Cantor Fisher.
"Well, they figured if I'm
good enough for London, I'm
good enough for Tel Aviv."
Was he ever. David Fisher
performed as Jean Valjean
more than 600 times. When
producer Cameron Mackin-
tosh put together an inter-
The Orthodox
cantor will not
perform on
Shabbat.
national cast of Les
Miserables for a special
command performance
before the Queen of England
in 1989, he chose David
Fisher as his Valjean.
Cantor Fisher doesn't have
to choose between roles as
cantor and actor. In a way,
they're co-mingled, he says.
"To be a cantor is also to be
an actor," he says with a
smile.
"But when you finish your
service as cantor, there is no
applause. That is hard" to
deal with, he says good-
naturedly.
At the bimah or on Broad-
way, David Fisher doesn't
have to make choices bet-
ween the secular and re-
ligious tugs at his heart. In
an unorthodox arrangement
— maybe a first for Broad-
way — the Orthodox cantor
will not be performing dur-
ing Shabbat.
David Fisher credits Mr.
Mackintosh for the special
arrangement. "This time of
year was chosen for my
engagement here because it
will not interfere with any
Jewish holidays," says Can-
tor Fisher. "My six months
end just before Passover."
His Broadway debut br-
ings it home for friends and
family that David Fisher,
the son of Holocaust sur-
vivors, means business
about his theatrical career.
"It is a shock for a lot of peo-
ple," he says with a laugh,
"including my wife and
parents."
And some fans. "I was very
famous among certain peo-
ple in Israel," says David
Fisher of the religious sec-
tion of the country who covet
his recordings of Yiddish
and Chasidic works.
"But the non-religious
people don't know my
name."
Now that he is making a
name for himself in theater,
maybe all that will change.
On the other hand, "When I
started doing Les Miserables
in Tel Aviv, the Chasids felt
that I left them."
He went on the record to
let them know that was not
the case. "After three years
in Les Mis, I recorded an-
other Chasidic record," he
notes.
As an observant Jew, says
David Fisher, he doesn't
close his eyes — or any doors
— on the Jewish community
he has served for so many
years.
David Fisher gives thanks
that the character who has
brought him to the edge of
fame is a man of faith also.
"Jean Valjean is a religious
man," notes the cantor. "He
prays a lot. So do I."
The prayers are being an-
swered. David Fisher feels
God is helping him on his
quest to find happiness —
and success — on stage.
"He puffs at me, pushes
me all the time," says David
Fisher. O
Tu B'Shevat
At Maple-Drake
The Jewish Community Cen-
ter, HomeHealth Exchange and
the Jewish National Fund will
host a celebration of Tu B'She-
vat at Maple-Drake Jan. 23 at
2 p.m.
Ron Coden and Josh White
Jr. will entertain at this inter-
generational concert. Admission
is free.
Library Holds
Used Book Sale
The Friends of the Huntington
Woods Library will hold a Book-
Lover's Used Book Sale Dec. 4
from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the low-
er level of the library.
Proceeds will be used to sup-
plement library budget funds
for equipment, projects and spe-
cial publications.
Players Stage
`Rumors'
Rosedale Community Players
will present Rumors by Neil Si-
mon. Rumors is a comedy about
an anniversary party that goes
awry.
Performances begin 8 p.m.
Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 and at 2
p.m. Dec. 5 at the Upstage The-
ater, 21728 Grand River.
Call Margaret Bross, 537-
7716. O
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