PalJoey Sees His Beloved West Side Story — Page 3

It's pretty evident that nothing is going to change regarding the present production. Sounds like Arthur Laurents is another one who needs to be run out of town along with the gang that destroyed the current revivial of Guys and Dolls.

"I saw the show at the invited dress and A-Rab's pants were all the way down around his ankles. It's a shame if they've changed that since. It was a very effective touch. "

I don't know how any of you would consider that either effective or chilling. For one thing the boy looked like he was 12 years old, his underwear didn't fit, and he had skinny, hairless little boy legs. I found it laughable. If you want to see chilling then watch any assortment of rape scenes on the LIFETIME for women network.

PalJoey, thank you for the interesting and well-thought-out review.
I was remembering hearing my Mom talk about seeing the original production with my Dad. She said that she didn't know much about the show going in, except that it was a musical version of "Romeo and Juliet." She told me that after the ending, the audience just sat in stunned silence for several seconds before the applause started--everyone was that moved and shocked. And she said she was crying so hard that they had to stay in the theater for a while until she recovered. I was just wondering--has anyone seen that kind of reaction at the ending of this production? (I'm guessing not...) I realize that these days, more people are familiar with the ending from seeing other productions or from seeing the movie, but it still seems to me that if it's done right, the ending should still be very powerful.
(I was also thinking about how I actually didn't grow up watching the movie, because for most of my childhood--I was born in '59--the movie was banned from TV. Does anyone else remember this? The fear was that it would incite gang violence. I don't know if this was just a New York metro area thing or if it was a nationwide ban?)

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I don't know how any of you would consider that either effective or chilling. For one thing the boy looked like he was 12 years old, his underwear didn't fit, and he had skinny, hairless little boy legs. I found it laughable.

- How old do you think the jets are suppose to be? They ARE teenage boys.

Updated On: 3/6/09 at 04:47 PM

yes, joey ! Now THAT would have been more menacing. In this menace-free production.

I love the energy on this board with everyone's opinions and thoughts on how "West Side Story," should, or shouldn't be. It's Arthur's show - so, it's his vision of the material. You line up 5 different directors, you'll get 5 different shows. And, not one of them will be wrong - they will each be different.

Saw Pittsburgh CLO's "West Side Story" August of last year and it was fantastic. It's too bad that the leads from that show, weren't cast in this version as they were wonderful. Was really surprised that they weren't.

Prior to that I saw WSS here in LA at Cabrillo Music Theatre back in 2005. It was a staggering, brilliant production that received standing Os every night. The second the opening music started, I was crying all the way throught it. Ha, ha...

Updated On: 3/6/09 at 05:09 PM

Miss Pennywise disagrees with Pal Joey, Curtain, PhilCrosby and Dottie, but still loves them all very much.

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"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html

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Anyone see it tonight? Were A-Rab's pants up or down?

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Hey, if I had to choose out of that group I'd go with O'Conner too. A wonderful talent.

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I saw the original production although Chita was gone and Anita was played by a really wonderful Carmen Alverez. It was the most emotionally draining shows I have ever seen. The last act built and built until the tension in the last scene was almost more that you could stand. The audience all had tears in their eyes as you didn't know if Maria would shoot someone or herself.

It was the only time I have been in a theater and you could hear the weights in the curtain hit the floor as the curtain came down. There was a fairly long pause before the applause started.

A friend met me outside the theater and I literally could not talk to him for about 10 minutes.

For these reasons I would not even think of seeing the abomination that the new production seems to be. Mr. Laurents, commit yourself to an assisted living facility and stage any new productions in the dining hall.

Updated On: 3/7/09 at 12:24 AM

I'm seeing it today, Pal - I'll tell you what I think!

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Yessir. Anything else you guys want me to report on?

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