WEST SIDE STORY at Paper Mill Playhouse

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 10:32pm

Surprised there isn't already a thread up about this, unless I'm missing it. Run begins performances tonight and goes through June 26. Who's going?

Production photos: https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Matt-Doyle-Belinda-Allyn-More-in-WEST-SIDE-STORY-at-Paper-Mill-Playhouse-20160601

Updated On: 6/1/16 at 10:32 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 11:13pm

I will be there Sunday, can't wait! Several of the design elements look borrowed from the 2009 revival.....

[hes16]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 11:17pm

I'm going on the 23rd...can't wait!!

[xxdrewboy85xx]

Posted: 6/1/16 at 11:20pm

I'm going on Wednesday! 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 2:41am

I'm going a week from today. 

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 1:06pm

I'm hoping to see it tomorrow!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 2:17pm

ljay889 said: "I will be there Sunday, can't wait! Several of the design elements look borrowed from the 2009 revival.....

"

The scenery and costumes are credited to the same designers of that revival, James Youmans and David C. Woolard. They were likely purchased or borrowed from a company that owns or rents them out.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 7:29pm

CATSNYrevival said: "ljay889 said: "I will be there Sunday, can't wait! Several of the design elements look borrowed from the 2009 revival.....

 

"

The scenery and costumes are credited to the same designers of that revival, James Youmans and David C. Woolard. They were likely purchased or borrowed from a company that owns or rents them out."

 

Well that makes sense!!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 10:23am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/STAGE-TUBE-Watch-Highlights-of-WEST-SIDE-STORY-at-Paper-Mill-Playhouse-20160604

Has anybody been going?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 8:47pm

West Side Story is one of my favorite musicals and the Papermill production does not disappoint.  The dancing was superb! I never ever get tired of The Dance at the Gym.  Matt Doyle was a great Tony with such a strong lovely voice.  Natalie Cortez as Anita was simply on fire and her performance alone is worth the price of a ticket.  Highly recommended!

[morosco]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 8:50pm

Well it's good to see that they did make one very critical improvement on the 2009 costumes.  The skirts that the Jet's girls are wearing are now at the appropriate length for the era.  (It must have been Laurents who insisted on those anachronistic skirts in his revival.)

[Melissa25]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 7:51am

Interesting that you mention costumes.  I don't remember them in the 2009 revival and I tried but cannot locate any photos of the Jet girls.  Yesterday, however, I commented to my friend that some of the Shark girls' costumes had a wee bit too much ruffle and a few black chokers that felt out of place.  We concluded that perhaps there were leftover pieces from Can-Can that were used.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 8:42pm

Saw the matinee today and it was a very good regional production of the show. Besides some of the sets and costumes, it didn't have too much in common with the 2009 revival. Fans like PalJoey will be glad to know that the Nightmare, full America choreography,  orchestrated "attempted rape" music, and the procession of Tony's body are in the production. Arthur controversially cut those bits. His additional of "Kiddo" is not in this production, and they have the traditional off stage singer for "Somewhere." The Jets and Sharks look like actual teenagers, and it's clear  that Arthur purposely cast guys with built gym bodies. These gang members looked very wimpy, but it's probably fitting for the time period. 

Cast is good, if not a bit generic. Natalie Cortez is still a solid Anita, but she doesn't quite break the standard Anita Mold like Tony winning Olivo did. She is also a bit saddled with a traditional Anita wig, she got to use her natural hair in Arthur's revival. 

Matt Doyle is solid. He doesn't do the high optional Maria note, and he doesn't stand out like Jeremy Jordan did. Belinda Allyn has a lovely voice, and she would have been a nice fit in Arthur's production. 

Overall it was a very solid production, though not spectacular.  Although it had passionate detractors, the 2009 revival was a special production for me, and this didn't quite live up to it, but it's worth seeing if you are a fan of the show. 

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 08:42 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 9:17pm

quick question for those that have seen it, but does Cortez do the full choreography in "Dance at the Gym" & "America"??

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 9:46pm

Yes, I mentioned that above. 

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 10:15pm

Does this production use Lin's spanish translations?

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 10:15pm

Double post

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 10:15 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 11:04pm

No, it's completely a traditional production of WSS. The only thing in common with the 2009 revival are the sets and some costumes. 

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 11:04 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 11:10pm

Should I go?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 11:17pm

If you want to erase the memories of the 2009 revival, then yes! It certainly has all of the elements that you look for in a production of this show. Even without comparing it to the last revival, it has some beautiful dancing and vocals, and the 20 piece orchestra sounds quite good. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 1:22pm

No one is re-inventing the wheel here. As directed by Mark S. Hoebee, this is a legacy production in the best sense: a loving presentation of a classic, with a good cast, buffed and burnished for a new generation of theatergoers.

Yup!

http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/theater-review-west-side-story-at-paper-mill-playhouse-1.1611607