THE EXPECTATION: For those who have read the book, seen the play and movie, and perhaps participated in high school production or two, nostalgic expectations always run sky high for a West Side Story revival--which sets up potenential disppointment. For those who have never seen WSS or are just not that tied in, this show makes for a great night out on Broadway (and serves as a good introduction to the magic of WSS).
THE HISTORY: Since its debut in 1957, Arthur Laurent’s West Side Story (WSS) has stood the test of time, having won a Tony nomination for best musical (1957) and received a Tony for best choreography (1961) and approximately 10 academy awards out of 11 nominations for the film version. Under the musical direction of Leonard Bernstein and with timeless lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, WSS also popularized songs such as Maria, Somewhere, Tonight and I Feel Pretty.
THE SHOW: Last night’s show at the Palace Theatre in Manhattan fought valiantly to fulfill expectations of WSS novices and diehards. Outstanding compositions, creativity, and choreograpy overshadowed anxieties and concerns about acting skill, miscasting, stage presence, star power, and charisma. Bernstein’s tantalizing musical score was undeniably absorbing. Even the disappointed viewer could find respite and perhpas solace the show's symphonically seductive musical score.
The ultra-slick choreography captured the broiling social tensions of the shows era. The staging and lighting effectively conveyed thematic dark side of WSS. At times, the stylized, ballet-like precision of the dancers and the distilled quality of the singers operatic voices, further softened the credibility of the gritty upper west side gang persona. Nonetheless, the performers worked hard abd were fascinating to watch. Some of the songs were sung partially in Spanish, which gave an air of authenticity to this updated version.
THE OUTCOME: Despite the obvious challenge of measuring up to its legendary status and obvious difficulty in achieving dramatic intergrity (or equality with previous renditions), last night’s WSS received customary whistles and cheers from a mostly satisfied audience proving the once a classic always a classic theory to be true.
THE BACKGROUND: Essentially an update on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this musical dramatizes the tragic fate of two lovers inextricably trapped in a web of cross cultural entanglements. Using the streets of New York City as the backdrop, WSS exposes a bitter rivalry between two teenage street gangs (the Jets and the Sharks) of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Sharks are first-generation Americans from Puerto Rico; and Jets are a working-class white group who consider themselves the true Americans. The gang rivalry explodes when Tony, a member if the Jets falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the Sharks.
THE BOTTOM LINE: No matter what, there will always be an upside to any production of WSS.
BAW
http://blackartsentertainmentwhisperer.blogspot.com/2010/05/upside-of-west-side-story.html
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