Taunting

With all the talk about the "rape" in West Side Story, I decided to do a little checking. In the listing of Musical Numbers, there is something called TAUNTING (Anita and the Jets). In the published script, the stage directions read, "The taunting breaks into a wild, savage dance, with epithets hurled at Anita, who is encircled and driven by the whole pack. At the peak, she is shoved so that she falls in a corner. Baby John is lifted up high and dropped on her as Doc enters from the cellar door..."

I saw a production that used the original Robbins choreography. The scene was shocking and unsettling. It was graphic enough.

Based on what has been posted, it appears that Mr. Laurents wants to be more graphic. He fails to understand the power to dance and movement.

According to members who were there, the scene is STILL choreographed.

A Director has hatred for anything involving Arthur Laurents and or Patti LuPone.

At least you are finally trying to justify your opinions. But who brought up Liza? lol

Can someone fill me in on what heinous acts Laurents has committed? Because to me, he seems like a sweet, harmless, nutty old grandpa who rants about Mexicans and didn't want Patti LuPone in his show.

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I actually find it fascinating (and creepy) how LIFE magazine devoted so many photos of that 'taunting' scene from the original 1957 Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY. I think they took more photographs of that one sequence than any other in their section of photographs from the show.