WEST SIDE STORY first preview reviews!- Page 8

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 1:50am

Playing Devil's Advocate--Miss Pennywise if you don't feel that that's the concern then why not do the full ballet? I think the full thing is like 7 minutes long--it's not Laurie Makes Up her Mind or something a modern audience might get restless watching... Interesting that they show more "sex" now--int he original staging you do see him wake up in her bed and it's clear what happened but...

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 1:57am

I never said that I prefer the abbreviated ballet. In fact, if you had read my comments after I saw it in DC (twice), you would see that I was in favor of restoring the entire ballet. I was simply responding to one comment bethnor made.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 2:10am

The reception over at ATC is the complete opposite from here. But is that a surprise?

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 2:21am

So, just for final clarification, how much of the "sex" is shown?

In most the lights fade out when they get under the covers. What is shown in THIS staging?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 7:24am

So, just for final clarification, how much of the "sex" is shown?

In most the lights fade out when they get under the covers. What is shown in THIS staging?

You're so goddamn funny.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 9:15am

More is shown in the rape scene than Tony and Maria's sex scene.

I remember in particular the name of one such Renthead named Joel who was rumoured to have seen the show hundreds of times

Ha. Try two thousand.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:18am

Sounds like they have made some significant improvements since the mediocrity of the early DC run. Good for them! Now, if they would just put back the whole ballet, eliminate the Somewhere "Kiddo" and put back in the original Robbins finale, I would be happy.

[East Village]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 10:41am

You know, Bethnor and Miss Pennywise both seem on the money -- I just couldn't quite express it well. Now I'm probably going to say something that neither of them said:) but at least on Tuesday it seemed that quite a few dramatic moments of the story (or turning points in the book) just get played out without any of the actors connecting.

The transition between I killed your brother and let's get in bed is a big one. Not only does something in the story feel missing (the full ballet), there's also something missing in the emotional journey these character's have to make.

I never felt the passion between Bernardo and Anita, I never really felt Tony and Maria feel in love before they sang "Tonight." Nor -- as I mentioned before -- does Maria ever connect with Anita before she sends her off to the Candy Store. That's a big moment when she needs to changed Anita's mind. You know Anita doesn't really want to go or approve. In this production she convinces her by yelling across the room. The character's just aren't living those emotional moments.

** I'm editing now to add, on the other hand, it seems a directorial choice. Laurents doesn't milk the melodrama or sentimentality of the story. Its a daring choice -- and I think successful because it does force you to experience those moments afterwards. This production isn't catering to the tour bus crowd. **

EricMontreal: As for past revivals were the dancers were grandstanding -- Debbie Allen. Mug for applause much?




Updated On: 2/26/09 at 10:41 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 11:09am

No. Debbie Allen did not "mug for applause." Mr. Robbins would have slapped her down very hard for doing that.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 2:12pm

I am quite fluent in Spanish and wanted to back up the others who have said siento hermosa is not grammatically correct. The "me" is required.

I don't know if the situation has changed (I saw the show in DC in early previews), but it annoyed me to no end that the projected surtitles were not literal translations of what was being said on stage, but rather the original English lyrics/script. I realize why they did this, but I had to try not to look at the screens, because I would just get annoyed.

[EVIE]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 3:38pm

KChenowethfan that would also annoy me to no end. How different was the translation?

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 3:51pm

It's virtually impossible to have a translation, you need to adapt lyrics to fit the music.

Although it would be odd to see the original lyrics projected when they are singing something different, but weren't the projections gone altogether?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 4:12pm

The surtitles were eliminated in DC. At least they were gone the 3rd time I saw it which was the week before the end of their engagement.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 6:44pm

If the surtitles are gone, my complaint is no longer valid. But the translations were different enough to annoy me as one who understands both languages. The general meaning was the same, but nuances were lost.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 8:14pm

The question is: How does MTF3 feel about all this?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/26/09 at 8:51pm

You mean how nomdeplume feels about it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 12:05am

I went tonight. I enjoyed it a lot. The view from the balcony was fine. I was third row center balcony. It only sucks when the people in the first row lean over. Otherwise you see the entire show.

The show was great. Karen blew me away in the second act. Her dancing is fine, it will never "wow" you, unfortunately. Joesefina is a breath of fresh air, really wonderful. Cody Green was a great Riff, thank god they fixed his hair since DC. Matt is fine, nothing special... but maybe that's because of the role. The Jet boys were really fantastic. The Spanish was a nice addition. The sets were great at time. The costumes looked fine. The Boy Soprano is a nice concept, but it's not executed well. The rape scene almost shocked me to tears, Karen's screams were heartbreaking. She really stole the second act.
I think the show will really come together as previews continue.

Apparently Chita was there tonight. There was a limo out front with her name on a piece of paper on the seat. Wonder what she thought!!!

ps, this was the audience from hell. Cell phone lights, taking pictures, candy wrappers, eating, talking, shaking their drinks with the ice in it, etc, etc.




Updated On: 2/27/09 at 12:05 AM

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 12:18am

Thank you IJay889, for your review. It sounds like it's really coming together. I bet Chita saw all the great possibilities and I bet she will return closer to the opening. I think the creative staff of this show will pull this off and it will be something very special. They know what needs to be worked on and they all want this show to shine. I believe it will. It takes a village, a rather large village to make shows like this happen. Each new day they will work harder and harder until they finally get the results they want. I think it's exciting that you are able to see this revival in this early phase and then I hope you will be able to return after it opens and see how amazing it plays after all the creative forces come together and it gels. So much seems to be getting better with each performance. Very exciting indeed!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 12:39am

Watching the Jerome Robbins PBS show again, I was reminded how the show was Robbins idea when Monty Clift, his ex-lover had an audition for ROMEO and JULIET.
Except for KRUPKE sounds like there are very few changes since what I saw in DC.
Is the balcony, fire escape still a mile wide?
and no costume changes?

[marknyc]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 1:29am

Just back from watching this in the front row (which is really not that bad - all you miss is Tony on the floor at the end).

I should add that I grew up with the film, so I'm prejudiced in its favor (blasphemy, I know). For example, the finger snaps are pretty much gone from the Prologue. I always liked them, so I missed them.

But what I missed the most was intensity. My boyfriend used the word "workmanlike" to describe the dancing in the Prologue. It was certainly good, but not inspired. It felt like they were kinda tired of it already.

Then came Cody Green as Riff, who I hear has not been a favorite. I liked him, actually more than George Akram as Bernardo. There just wasn't enough anger and fire in George's performance.

On to Tony. I loved Matt in "Grey Gardens," but here his vocal limitations are readily apparent. He sings in the back of his upper palate, giving a tight, nasal sound to all his songs. He hits the high notes in "Maria" dead on, but the tone is so unappealing that you never get lost in the beauty of the song.

Josefina is as wonderful as everyone says, but mainly vocally. She's not quite up to the acting demands (more on that later).

The star of the show is, of course, Karen Olivo as Anita. Wow. She brings everything you want to the role: singing, acting, dancing. Unfortunately, she just makes you aware of what you're missing in the rest of the cast. But, boy, did the audience signal who they liked at the curtain call!

As to Laurents' direction, he seems to miss many key moments. Perhaps it was due to the front-row seating, but we both missed the moment when Tony and Maria first see each other. That's a critical moment that should be highlighted with spots or something. And it felt like they rushed through their first lines of dialogue, kinda like, "Oh, we've all heard this a hundred times before, so why milk it?"

Then, Maria's moment when Tony first appears after Bernardo's murder - there's a brief pause, and she runs into his arms! It doesn't ring true - there's no time spent expressing her anger.

Similarly, when Tony is told she's been shot, there's none of the denial/disbelief you expect. He starts crying immediately, which felt false.

Once again, Karen brings us back to truth - she plays her attempted rape scene perfectly. And fiercely - you really feel that the Jets are in as much danger as she is!

Josefina isn't quite up to her final scene with the gun. This is where we need to see Maria change from a girl to a woman, and it's not happening yet. Perhaps in the future.

Mambo was great - the territorialism on the dance floor is clearly established. But, who could ever match Russ Tamblyn's acrobatics? =)

Here's the spoiler, I think: in the "Somewhere" ballet, the song is sung by a young boy (Tony and Maria's dream child?). Was that in the original? I never saw this ballet before, though I've always loved the music, so I was pleased to see it. My boyfriend thought it was way over the top.

The Spanish didn't seem to add a lot, IMO. It did differentiate the gangs in the Quintet, but it didn't make the Puerto Ricans seem much more "real." And there's really not that much of it - hardly any in the first act.

So we came away underwhelmed. Good, but not great. It just didn't seem like the cast was as excited as I was to be there. Perhaps I was expecting too much?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:17am

East Village I think your post makes a lot of sense--and you seem to love my current tv show :P But I think one time Debbie DIDN'T grandstand was in the revival...


"Watching the Jerome Robbins PBS show again, I was reminded how the show was Robbins idea when Monty Clift, his ex-lover had an audition for ROMEO and JULIET. "

This is why it seems worrisome that Laurents is in charge. I dunno :)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:42am

Face it. Without the Nightmare section, the ballet is "over-the-top" treacle.

Arthur left it out for one reason and one reason only: to emasculate Robbins's contribution.

There you have it. I've said it and it's true.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:52am

You're dead on actually I think. Is that what's been cut? that's been my worry
Updated On: 2/27/09 at 08:52 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 8:52am

double :) Updated On: 2/27/09 at 08:52 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/27/09 at 9:24am

I totally agree with what PalJoey says. The absence of the nightmare section of the ballet is a glaring omission.