Topol is set to play Tevye for the last time in a production of Fiddler On the Roof to open in Melbourne in July.
The three million dollar production will play at the Regent Theatre, forcing the planned opening of Ragtime for September to be delayed until next year.
Financial backing for the show is coming from Melbourne's large Jewish community and the show will play its exclusive Australian engagement in Melbourne. The show has been staged many times previously and was part of the repertoire of the Australian Opera for several years.
Ragtime was to be a co-production of Marriner Theatres and Livent, but their plans for another joint venture, Show Boat remain unaffected for an April opening in Sydney.
--By Peter Ford
Australia Correspondent
