“West Side Story” is a musical beloved even by people who don’t patronize theater. This is due in large part to the epic 1961 film that brought the enduring tale of forbidden love to audiences in movie theaters and on television in the subsequent decades.
The key to a successful “West Side Story” stage production lies in its ability to encompass a world larger than the central couple of Tony and Maria and have the audience cheer on the contrasting and complementary tribes for their unknown relatability to each other.
Director Martin A. Aviles created a New York City of dueling cultures that channeled the relevancy of virulent allegiance in the political atmosphere of today. It almost seemed like he directed the cast separately at times, but with the actors unknowingly being given the same motivation for their characters.
The synchronization and duality of the Jets and the Sharks as warring factions both looked down upon by the law (played brilliantly and sardonically by Michael Sherwood as a curmudgeonly Lt. Shrank, alongside the Bluto-esque Officer Krupke by Bill O’Leary) created an ambiance of looming tragedy contrasted by the bright music and dazzling choreography.
Choreographer Daria DeGaetano accomplished a Herculean task of challenging, original Jerome Robbins choreography and delivering the engaging and triumphant release for the audience at the conclusion of each scene.
In particular, in the dance hall scene where the Jets, Sharks, and their respective molls battle it out dive-bar style, DeGaetano’s choreography is precise but still rambunctious and fun.
The finger-snapping directives given by Riff (played by Jason Steven Kopp as both a teen idol and seasoned military captain) and Bernardo (played by Edward E. Martinez as a teen-aged Antonio Banderas bad boy with a moral compass and societal understanding) seemed so natural in demanding compliance because Kopp and Martinez effectuated such powerful characters.
The nuclear chemistry between Tony (Louis Bianco) and Maria (Laila Canelo), who played Bronx Romeo and Juliet last season, is so strong and synergistic of their amazing voices that their next pairing better be as husband and wife.
The operatic voice required to play Maria was deftly and confidently fulfilled by Canelo, especially in “A Boy Like That/I Have Love,” which was punctuated with the waterfall delivery of “Oh no, Anita, no.”
Bianco managed to give an in-depth character arc to Tony that usually is glossed over in productions of “West Side Story,” from his quiet but yearning “Something’s Coming” to his all-out passionate rendition of “One Hand, One Heart.”
The ensemble pieces of “The Jet Song,” “America,” and “Gee, Officer Krupke,” from the clear elocution of the delicate and intricate phrasing to the bombastic dance sequences, were a delight to watch as the characters painted their world view for the audience and again, witnessed the commonalities of the two warring gangs.
Feminine strength takes on two interpretations with Anita (Camilla Montoya) and Anybodys (Juliana Jagielo), with the animalistically sexy but spinster wise former, and the tomboyish yet googly-eyed latter.
Montoya manages to incorporate baby-doll voice sass in her dealings with beau Bernardo, but full alto chidings with future sister-in-law, Maria. In her part of the “Tonight” quintet, she dons black, fishnet stockings and full intentions with her strong voice and burlesque movements.
Jagielo, who delivers the most crest-fallen reaction to Tony’s insults of “You’re a girl!”, is cast off as a pest by the Jets, but proves to be a maternal figure in a way as she always checks in on the hooligans’ well-being.
Scenic designer John Mazzarella, lighting designer Ben Hegarty, and costume/wig designer Ronald R. Green III were a trifecta of world-building excellence as every movement, both internal and external of each character, was captured by the surrounding architecture and punctuated with shades of color both in dress and in the sky.
A show to be seen multiple times, “West Side Story” is an allegory for real life with a lesson on how to overcome our differences by looking within.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here