The Style of West Side Story

[PalJoey]

The Style of West Side Story#1

Posted: 4/9/09 at 5:52pm

I searched but I didn't see this New York Times article from March 25th in any of the threads.

It's a very interesting article on the costuming of the original, the film and the revival, with comments from fashion designers.
Get Cool, Boy

[Byron Abens]

re: The Style of West Side Story#2

Posted: 4/9/09 at 6:11pm

Fascinating article, thanks for sharing.

I guess we have just one more example of Laurents trying to downplay and set himself above the contributions of all of his original collaborators.

[raker]

re: The Style of West Side Story#2

Posted: 4/9/09 at 9:09pm

I just finished Mainly on Directing by Arthur Laurents. He writes about the depth and nuances he developed in his revivals of West Side Story and Gypsy. The thing is, none of these so-called revelations are new. In fact, they're all in the movie versions which he bitterly disparages. For example, the Sharks aren't villains in WSS. They're the oppressed minority. I always saw the Jets as the bad guys. And Everything's Coming Up Roses has always been wonderful because while it sounds like a joyous song, in context it's tragic and sad. In my opinion, Rosalind Russell played it perfectly. Laurents writes that playing the sadness in the song was a bold new approach. Computer says no.

I thought the direction and design in the new West Side Story were good, but there was nothing revolutionary. That's good, because the show doesn't require a revolution. We like it for what it is.

[choitoy]

re: The Style of West Side Story#3

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:10pm

I'm still in the middle of reading the book, but I just got through the section on re-directing Gypsy, and he pretty much made it clear that the songs and dances were a distraction to the musical, and that he really had to work to make them work.

Xanadu! Can't cry on cue!

[wicked_beast4]

re: The Style of West Side Story#4

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:17pm

raker- LOVE the Little Britain quip!

"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable." -F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise

[CurtainPullDowner]

re: The Style of West Side Story#5

Posted: 4/9/09 at 11:31pm

From PUT ON A HAPPY FACE by Charles Strouse:
"As Arthur opened the door, he was giggling-barely able to suppress his laughter, as though he just heard the funniest joke in the world.
What's so funny? I asked.
Once he was able to stop chuckling, he said:
"Tony Perkins has AIDS"
Updated On: 4/10/09 at 11:31 PM

[LadyDramaturg2]

re: The Style of West Side Story#6

Posted: 4/10/09 at 2:14am

oh.

my.

god.

[CurtainPullDowner]

re: The Style of West Side Story#7

Posted: 4/10/09 at 10:57pm

Nice guy, huh?
It's hard to piss off Charles Strouse.