Why does a girl have to read?” asks milkman Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. “Will it get her a better husband?” In the end Tevye and his wife Golde decide to hire a matchmaker to find suitable husbands for their five daughters. But whether the chosen men are acceptable is quite another matter. Soon a much bigger problem arises. This is Russia in 1905. Tevye, his family, friends, and neighbours are all Jewish, and the Tsarist regime has decided to evict them from their village.

Had Fiddler been produced as a serious-minded play, it would no doubt have enjoyed modest success. But it wasn’t: it burst upon the scene in 1964 as a musical with a tune-filled score from Jerry Bock, and rapier-sharp lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Crucially, the show makes its points by using humour, rather than by lecturing the audience.

All this was very much born in mind in Oxfordshire Youth Music’s production (director Edward Blagrove). The show isn’t easy – there are some long periods of dialogue between musical numbers, which must be delivered with wit and sparkle if they are not to drag. Give or take a bit of mumbling, there was no problem here, the acting really got you involved with the characters – a special mention to Rebecca Goldie, who was highly convincing as Grandma Tzeitel, even though she is actually only just now taking her GCSEs.

With numbers like Matchmaker, Sunrise Sunset, To Life, and the iconic If I were a Rich Man, there’s plenty for both principals and chorus to get their teeth into. No disappointments here either – under Deborah Rose’s leadership, the score’s potent contrasts of happiness and melancholy were beautifully captured by both cast and band.

Edd Bird presented a generally gentle Tevye, whilst also relishing the delicious line: “When I get angry, even flies don’t dare to fly.” However, his wife Golde (Jenna Elliot) definitely ruled the roost. There were some nicely rounded cameos down the cast, while the chorus sung and danced with conviction and enthusiasm. Altogether there is no doubt – there’s a lot of young, local talent around.