WEST SIDE STORY (2019 Revival) Preview Thread- Page 21
WEST SIDE STORY (2019 Revival) Preview Thread
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#500WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/7/20 at 1:41pmCook was in last night, so assuming he is okay.
GreasedLightning
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/11/14
#501WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/7/20 at 2:19pm
iluvtheatertrash said: "Cook was in last night, so assuming he is okay."
No, he wasn’t. A friend was there last night and sent me a photo of the cast list insert. Cook was still out, as well as Tony/Maria and several others.
ModernMillie3
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/13
#502WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/7/20 at 2:47pm
A Facebook friend went to the show tonight and posted a pic of the board. 8 understudies including Maria and Riff
Perhaps now they'll rethink that whole water on stage thing.......
#503WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/7/20 at 3:10pm
Not to add fuel to the fire, but when I was there Thursday I was hot off of reading rumors from here; so I asked an actress at the Stagedoor about the rain, and she said it was pretty cold. I asked if they slip on stage she said that they all have sandpaper-like materials on their shoes, and that the slips are choreographed. After this I asked if they take any leeway with the slips, as I thought they looked a little scary during the rumble, she said that the guys definitely get overzealous with their slips, and sometimes take it further than choreographed.
With that info, and knowing that Isaac got injured during the rumble, I wonder if they will rethink part of the rain(how heavy it is, temperature) because if people are getting injured while overselling the slips, that isn’t good.
Impossible2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
#504WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/7/20 at 7:01pm
I wonder if any of these poor dancers are still with us...
https://youtu.be/uJzRrfHdoko?t=70
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#505WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/7/20 at 10:00pm
I hope they leave the rain in, if they need to tone it down to make it safer so be it. But I found it to be a pretty powerful element
#506WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:03am
Ben Cook has been replaced:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dharon-E-Jones-Replaces-Ben-Cook-in-WEST-SIDE-STORY-20200109
I guess his injury is more serious than we thought.
#507WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:05am
But this isn't a troubled preview period, right?
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dharon-E-Jones-Replaces-Ben-Cook-in-WEST-SIDE-STORY-20200109
#508WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:10am
I saw the show on Tuesday and we had 7 understudies on. My friend and I, before realizing how many u/s we had, found ourselves being concerned about safety with all the rain. Finding out after that there had been injuries didn’t surprise us.
I must say that Mia Pinero’s Maria was incredible. I didn’t realize she was an u/s until after the show. During her performance I found myself thinking that she was set for a Tony Nomination.
#509WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:11amOh Jesus, I guess I’m glad I saw him as riff then, he was really good. I’d be curious when he was injured, if it was because of/during the rain that doesn’t bode well
#510WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:16amI heard Ben got hurt during the rumble. Something with his shoulder, I think. I don’t know anyone involved, this is just what I’ve heard
ren598
Leading Actor Joined: 10/13/15
#511WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:18am
benfox2 said: "Oh Jesus, I guess I’m glad I saw him as riff then, he was really good. I’d be curious when he was injured, if it was because of/during the rain that doesn’t bode well"
I feel the same way. Glad I saw him at the Sunday matinee. With both Tony and Maria understudies, I definitely thought he was a standout. I guess if I went back to see this again, I’d get a different Tony, Maria and Riff.
#512WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:20am
Are we really to blame the onstage rain for all these absences? Are we certain that some of them aren't due to an inexperienced cast not accustomed to the rigors of a demanding 8 show a week Broadway musical schedule and not pacing themselves accordingly?
#513WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:23am
QueenAlice said: "Are we really to blame the onstage rain for all these absences? Are we certain that some of them aren't due to an inexperienced cast not accustomed to the rigors of a demanding8 show a week Broadway musical schedule and not pacing themselves accordingly?"
In my understanding, if they had been injured during the rumble, the rain is most certainly to blame. Particularly, Cook was in Newsies, so he definitely was accustomed to a demanding, dance heavy show precious to WSS.
#514WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:25am
Saw the show last night and loved it. Even with Maria/Tony/Riff understudies. You couldn’t tell they were covers.
I loved Dharon E. Jones as Action. In fact, I thought he was a standout. I’d be very interested to see his take on Riff. Corey John Snide was on last night and I thought he was very good. I assume this shift in cast means they have to reshoot/re-edit some videos without Ben Cook. These injuries are really such a shame since I think this is the most thrilling production of West Side Story I’ve ever seen.
#516WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:26am
I don't believe Maria dances in the rain. So to what to we attribute her absences?
#517WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:29am
Who knew this would rise to SPIDER-MAN levels.
#518WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:34amCurious if there will be a cast left when I see the show at the end of February.
#519WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:39am
QueenAlice said: "I don't believe Maria dances in the rain. So to what to we attribute her absences?"
Sickness? It’s pretty hard to sing high Cs even when healthy. (And Maria does run on a wet stage, so who knows.)
kuhset
Chorus Member Joined: 11/11/14
#520WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:41am
not sure if I've just missed this -- just tried to do a quick command + f search for "rain" and didn't see anything, but when exactly is the rain scene?
SporkGoddess
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
#521WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:44am
Jesus, this show really is the new “Spider-Man”.
I was wondering when people would start making this comparison.
#522WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:50amI don’t think the absences have anything to do with the rain, but if the the 2 (publicized) injuries were indeed during the rumble, then then rain almost certainly plays a factor into that.
MollyJeanneMusic
Broadway Star Joined: 3/10/19
#523WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:59am
n2nbaby said: "Curious if there will be a cast left when I see the show at the end of February."
The most ironic thing would be if everyone got injured EXCEPT for Amar.
#524WSS 2019/20
Posted: 1/9/20 at 12:00pm
^^^^
IT'S LIKE RAY-E-AIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY...
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