WEST SIDE STORY Reviews.... — Page 7

I think I know what theater you are talking about, philcrosby!

I usually find myself softening on my inital reactions to a show I am not fond of in the days following seeing it. I definitely softened towards EQUUS. My initial reaction was that it was overblown and pretentious. After several days, my opinion changed towards it and if you asked me now, I would tell you I enjoyed it.

To go off of something phil said that I forget in my review is that it was gimmicky. I found the whole ballet and "Somewhere" to be very schlocky with the use of the kid singing onstage. It was definitely an eye roll moment for me. From that, I really can't say my opinion has softened on this one. I would, however, be open to the idea of seeing it again after it opens in NYC to see if Laurents makes any more changes. It does have many great things going for it, and again, I wish it the best.

I am really glad to hear you say that MissP. Bodes well for a great success in NYC ... and also suggests that the creative team is taking advantage of previews and an out-of-town tryout in the right way!

I am joining the critics in the looney bin. I do think they are sugar coating it a little (I was at press night, and the "Tonight" Quintet was noticeably off--a side effect of the Sharks singing in Spanish, making it harder for everyone to be together) but I still enjoyed the production tremendously. That said I am glad they are taking the critiques seriously to make changes to the show.

I was there last night 1/14/09, and there a faint glimmer of hope that they were taking the costume thing seriously when Kyle Coffman (A-rab) showed up without that hideous orange/white traffic comptroller vest (I guess it's supposed to be a soda jerk vest. Be that as it may). He (and the Jets) looked infinitely less dorky without it. Alas it showed up in his next act, and I thought to myself, "Damn, someone found it..."

I do think the boys have been unfairly ridden in this production, especially Cavenaugh. I thought he made an audible effort last night to cut back on the vibrato, which there have been lots of complaints about. I'm still not keen on his performance, but I also think he's been given an impossible task. Viewers are complaining that he's too much of an emo weenie, but it seems to me that is the way Tony is written: an emo weenie. Case in point: he hears the love of his life is shot. Most red-blooded guys would have sought out Chino, grabbed that gun from him, and pistol-whipped his face into a bloody pulp. But Laurents instead has him running through the alleys, begging to join Maria. How charmingly sixteenth century. Worse yet, if he wanted to commit suicide, what the hell? He's in the basement of a DRUG STORE. He's so weenie he needs someone else to do the job for him. How is a character written this way supposed to come off as a tough guy?

Rick Sincere of the Metro Herald wrote a positive review, but I think he rightly questioned much of the source material:

http://ricksincerethoughts.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-of-west-side-story.html

ETA: if folks are indeed interested in catching the show one last time before it leaves DC, best act fast. I had originally intended on going to closing night, 1/17/09, but that was sold out last week. Then I went browsing for seats on 1/16, it seemed like only partial view seats were available.

Updated On: 1/15/09 at 05:09 PM

Apparently Sondheim said last night that English may now be added to the "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love" scene.


However, Sondheim noted that “A Boy Like That” and “I Have a Love,” which are currently comprised entirely of Spanish, may be changed to include both Spanish and English.

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/2009/01/stephen_sondheim_and_frank_ric.html

That is great news!

The spanish wasn't added for "Authenticity". No one is pretending it was. Let it go.