WEST SIDE STORY reviews: opened Feb 20 2020

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 9:36am

What will the critics say?

Updated On: 2/21/20 at 09:36 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 10:30am

Truly have NO idea what critics will think. (The critics who loved the recent revivals of Carousel and Oklahoma!, on the far ends of the spectrum.) Looks like there's plenty of inventory to move for March and April, and a show this big ($15million) certainly isn't critic-proof. Guess we'll find out in 12 hours.

[BenElliott]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 11:24am

I'm predicting mixed reviews that lean a bit more on the side of negative.

[Piparoo]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 11:33am

I'm predicting strongly positive reviews for the production with no more than a single paragraph devoted to the protests

[joevitus]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 12:32pm

Piparoo said: "I'm predicting strongly positive reviews for the production with no more than a single paragraph devoted to the protests"

This.

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 12:41pm

I'm predicting fair reviews that will illustrate what a dumpster fire this production is with a brief mention of the controversy.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 12:48pm

Georgeanddot2 said: "I'm predicting fair reviews that will illustrate what a dumpster fire this production is with a brief mention of the controversy."

Seconded. Maybe with a brief mention of Isaac Powell since I've heard good things about his portrayal? 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 1:22pm

Piparoo said: "I'm predicting strongly positive reviews for the production with no more than a single paragraph devoted to the protests"

I'd be shocked if they include more than that. It's worthwhile to mention it in a sentence or two, but this is a review of the show onstage, not a feature article chronicling the production's strange road to Broadway. Like Spider-Man and Mockingbird and plenty of other shows with controversies: make a passing mention, and then move on to the content of the show. (The NYT, for example, has already covered the Ramasar situation in 10 stories from the past year alone.)

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 1:36pm

Predict at least some all out raves.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 1:42pm

Do we know if green or Brantley is reviewing this one?

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 1:55pm

The NYTimes LOVES Rudin so I expect a Critics Pick no matter what.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 2:38pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "The NYTimes LOVES Rudin so I expect a Critics Pick no matter what."

That is absurd and demonstratively untrue. 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 2:52pm

Georgeanddot2 said: "I'm predicting fair reviews that will illustrate what a dumpster fire this production is with a brief mention of the controversy."

“Fair reviews” and “dumpster fire” don’t exactly correlate... 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 3:07pm

Predicting:

terry teachout and David cote hate it. 
jesse green loves it. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 3:13pm

GreasedLightning said: "Georgeanddot2 said: "I'm predicting fair reviews that will illustrate what a dumpster fire this production is with a brief mention of the controversy."

“Fair reviews” and “dumpster fire” don’t exactly correlate..."

I was thinking the same thing, lol. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 3:35pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "The NYTimes LOVES Rudin so I expect a Critics Pick no matter what. "

I thought that was only Isherwood

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 3:36pm

InTheBathroom1 said: "The NYTimes LOVES Rudin so I expect a Critics Pick no matter what. "

That’s kind of an idiotic blanket statement, though he’s had some great critical successes. Your statement would be more believable if it was about Van Hove, which Brantley in the NYT has generally favored. But this is also a beloved musical and something much more ambitious than IVH’s past work. We’ll find out around 11pm tonight. 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 3:37pm

GreasedLightning said: "Georgeanddot2 said: "I'm predicting fair reviews that will illustrate what a dumpster fire this production is with a brief mention of the controversy."

“Fair reviews” and “dumpster fire” don’t exactly correlate..."

I think it would be fair, maybe even too kind to call this production a dumpster fire.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 4:49pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "We’ll find out around 11pmtonight."

We'll find out sooner that that. 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:02pm

Brantley is up:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/theater/west-side-story-review-sharks-vs-jets-vs-video.html?smid=tw-nyttheater&smtyp=cur

 

is this what one calls a pan? Not a critic pick, mostly does not like the video or the choreography from what I gather. Barely discusses the performances. 

Updated On: 2/20/20 at 08:02 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:02pm

4/5 The Times UK

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/west-side-story-review-tense-and-angry-a-story-retold-for-our-time-2dbb9qrff

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:13pm

Luminaire2 said: "Brantley is up:



https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/theater/west-side-story-review-sharks-vs-jets-vs-video.html?smid=tw-nyttheater&smtyp=cur



is this what one calls a pan? Not a critic pick, mostly does not like the video or the choreography from what I gather. Barely discusses the performances."

Not as cruel as he’s been in the past, but it’s certainly an “ouch.” Not what the production would be hoping for. He did like a few elements. 

[StardustsChild]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:15pm

Isherwood is up, mixed

https://broadwaynews.com/2020/02/20/review-ivo-van-hoves-west-side-story-feels-more-cinematic-than-theatrical/

 

 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:15pm

ljay889 said: "Luminaire2 said: "Brantley is up:



https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/theater/west-side-story-review-sharks-vs-jets-vs-video.html?smid=tw-nyttheater&smtyp=cur



is this what one calls a pan? Not a critic pick, mostly does not like the video or the choreography from what I gather. Barely discusses the performances."

Not as cruel as he’s been in the past, but it’s certainly an “ouch.” Not what the production would be hoping for. He did like a few elements."

I’d say Brantley being overall meh is even worse then his cruel gems he likes to insert. 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:22pm

Variety is meh
https://www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2020/legit/reviews/west-side-story-review-broadway-ivo-van-hove-1203507979/amp/