When my wife and I were new to town 20 years ago, one of the first civic activities we attended was a Southwest Community Theatre production of "The Music Man."

It was a wonderful show and demonstrated to us newcomers just how much talent our new friends and neighbors possessed.

We didn't think community theater productions could get much better than that.

Until Sunday afternoon, that is.

We were weary from a short business and pleasure trip to Lincoln, but we had promised ourselves we would find a way to take in the final, matinee production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

Now, I'm convinced you couldn't find a better community theater production anywhere in the state, Lincoln and Omaha included.

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. As the program pointed out, several of the current cast had at least 20 years of practice, having been part of that first SWNCTA production exactly two decades ago.

They include Charlie Coleman and Glenda Baker, who had leading roles in the Music Man, and portrayed, respectively, the Rabbi and the ghost of Grandma Tzeitel.

Other 20-year veterans included Merlin Brown, Karrie O'Brien, Phil Lyons, Marie Coffey and, of course, Don Harpst.

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My wife, son and I stayed with a friend in Lincoln, Ellis Vaughn, who might be playing French horn in the Fiddler on the Roof orchestra if he still lived in McCook.

As one who grew up exposed to what culture the Community Concert series could offer to a Nebraska farm boy, I mentioned to Ellis that it had been a while since I had been able to hear an orchestra.

Then, only a day later, what a delight it was to hear "Fiddler's" pit orchestra, including the strings of Craig and Cheryl Christner and their children Johnathan and Leanne Miller, not to mention son-in-law Tim Miller, the "Fiddler on the Roof" himself.

Directed by Bryan Regier, the orchestra, which also included Andrea Wunibald, Tyler Cobb, Angie Wiess, Nathaniel Frank, Rebecca Gordine, Chris Sandmann and Jack Latta, added music to the production so flawless that it I almost forgot it was a live orchestra.

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Of course, many members of the crew weren't even born when SWNCTA offered its first production, and we especially enjoyed the portrayal of nontraditional suitor, the tailor Motel, and the many other young members of the cast.

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Speaking of being born, I have to agree with an observation voiced by the Gazette's entertainment editor, Michelle Walkenshaw-Herrera, who contends that Greg Hepp was "born" for the role of Tevye.

Perhaps, as a father in my extremely late 40s -- OK, it's 50 -- I identified just a little too much with his portrayal of a father faced with challenges to his authority and the "tradition" he loves. I doubt out local community theater troupe could have found a better actor and singer to carry off the role with such talent and sensitivity.

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It's unfair not to mentioned the dozens of people who sacrificed hours and hours of work to make Fiddler on the Roof the enjoyable, memorable event it became, but space doesn't permit me to do so.

Scenery, sound, lighting -- all are vastly improved over the best efforts of years past.

The only problem I can see is how the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association is going to top itself.

We'll find out. Director Colleen Grant, (308) 340-0510, is lining up auditions in late spring or early summer for "Barefoot in the park," to be presented Oct. 8 in the Gateway in Oberlin and Oct. 14, 15 and 16 in McCook.

If you can't wait until then for more great theater, the Missoula Children's Theater will present "The Tales of Hans Christian Andersen" April 9 at 3 and 7 p.m. in the McCook High School Auditorium, and McCook Community College will present "Revenge of the Space Pandas" on April 14, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tipton Mini-Theater.

-- Bruce Crosby recently made his acting debut -- not including his portrayal of a tree in his high school play -- in a two-minute church skit.