It had been a hot minute since I walked inside the halls of QPAC. With COVID-19 ravaging the arts over the past 12 months there haven't been as many shows to see, so I was more than excited to get ahold of a red hot ticket to see one of the most famous musicals of all time West Side Story.

West Side Story is a book and musical by Arthur Laurents, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical is inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and I could draw the connections as I watched the performance. Whilst I went into the show fairly oblivious to the plot I had an inkling there would be musical flair to the performance. 

The story is set in the mid 50’s upper west side of New York City. The plot is centred around the rivalry of two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, the white gang ‘Jets’ and their Puerto Rican rivals ‘Sharks’. In true Romeo and Juliet fashion one of the Jets members falls in love with the sister of the Sharks leader and as tensions rise for these star crossed lovers, so does the emotional pull. 

As the curtains rise, our eyes are cast on the rich blood red backdrop that teases the intensity of what is to come. Upon commencement of the show projections of old New York City apartments and streets filled were displayed as the audience was introduced to our feisty teen gang bangers. Each side of the stage featured impressive scaffoldings replicating the seedy Manhattan fire escape ladders and landings. I expected the fire escape to be utilised more throughout the show, but nonetheless when this area was utilised in the performance it was highly effective with some real ‘Wherefore art thou?’ moments shining through.

As we are introduced to the two gangs, the story begins to unfold as we meet the former Jets member Tony (Nigel Huckle) who has big dreams and looks to put the street life behind him. When Huckle is coaxed to a dance by his mate Rif (Noah Mullins) he meets Maria (Sophie Salvesani) and the two instantly fall in love, oblivious to the tribal war that is developing around them. 

I personally found the Puerto Rican culture, specifically the passionate music and dance elements, extremely entertaining to watch. The main cast donned vibrant costumes with reds and purples, while the Jets wore mostly muted greys. The Sharks also had a stand out performer, Maria’s spirited and feisty best friend Anita, played by Angelina Thomson, whose skirt-swinging vivaciousness not only claimed the audiences attention but kept it with her vocal performance in songs such as ‘A Boy Like That’. 

The dance routines are full of energy and the ensemble cast is thoroughly impressive. The male vocalists deliver a powerful performance as they leap in unison with 50’s finger snaps and foot stomps, whilst the ensemble conveys an array of emotions from characters that include lustful wonder to teenage exuberance to budding romance and later grief and despair. 

As a musical it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, not to mention a great night out, but the story may need a little revamping to keep it daring, and use its racial angst as something more compelling and relevant for the modern era.

 

Review By: Thomas Harrison