Memorabilia

Item Description

Motel, the Tailor
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
1964

Our Motel bear wears a detailed replica of the original costume design by Tony Award-winner Patricia Zipprodt. He's donned a period-style vest and Russian cap, complete with tiny vintage buttons. The cream, raw silk-gauze Russian-style shirt has been lovingly mended at the elbows. His black wool twill pants have a patch at the knee – just like in the original Broadway production. Under his vest, Motel wears a prayer shawl made from a black-and-white striped tea towel with edges that have been carefully frayed and knotted. Both the shirt and prayer shawl were aged in Lipton Tea. Around Motel’s neck is a cotton tape measure and he sports needles and thread in his vest. He wears black, wire-frame glasses and his boots have been aged and scuffed with sandpaper. Motel’s hair and beard are made from special black wool sold for making fishing flies, then curled into shape with a curling iron.

(sung to the tune of “Tevye’s Dream”)
Behold this Broadway Bear, Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!
Handmade with loving care, Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!
It’s Austin Pendleton as Tevye’s newfound son.
The tailor Motel Kamzoil. (cymbal crash)

Original costume designed by Patricia Zipprodt
Broadway Bear designed by Richard St. Clair

Signed by Austin Pendleton and Hal Prince