Die-hard fans were surprised to hear that four-time Tony award winner Harvey Fierstein would replace Chaim Topol as patriarch Tevye in the touring musical production of Fiddler on the Roof. (Fierstein replaced Alfred Molina in the role on Broadway in 2004.) But is the casting change really so crude? We dissect the anatomy of the actor.

1 Tevye’s impeccable Hassidic grooming will be given a dandyish flair: Fierstein’s hairdressing skills were put to good use as he remade Robin Williams into the titular Mrs. Doubtfire. The actor also won a Tony for his turn as Edna Turnblad in the 2003 Broadway production of Hairspray.

2 That voice! Fierstein’s gravelly tones voiced the sensitive assistant Karl on a key episode of The Simpsons and his melodic singing was the high point of the autobiographical play Torch Song Trilogy, about a Jewish drag queen’s search for love and family in the late ’70s. (The 1988 film version co-starred Matthew Broderick and Anne Bancroft.)

3 Fierstein’s portly physique may be a change from past Tevyes, who included Leonard Nimoy and Alfred Molina, but it’s actually more inclined to the musical’s 1964 inception, starring comedic legend Zero Mostel. Fierstein famously portrayed Mrs. Claus in drag at the 2003 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

4 Fierstein has danced circles around co-stars that include John Cusack (Bullets Over Broadway) and Estelle Getty (Torch Song Trilogy). He also penned the book for the Broadway musical La cage aux folles, based on the 1973 play by Jean Poiret — so he knows pacing.