WEST SIDE STORY reviews: opened Feb 20 2020 — Page 3

chrishuyen said: "I was looking at the Playbill review roundup article and it looks like A LOT more critics reviewed this show than normal. Is that just because it's a controversial revival of a big name classical theater piece?"

I noticed this as well! I was wondering the same thing.

Updated On: 2/20/20 at 09:55 PM

SouthernCakes said: "These reviews are really entertaining. They almost make me want to see this show but if they can’t sing or act what’s the point? "

They can sing and act. I don't read theater critics (is this even a real profession? ) because I just can't take a questionable opinion of some pompous individuals and make it decide for me if I want to see a show. Did these people create anything themselves to be so snarky, lol? Thank god for social media and boards like this where I can find reviews of real people who pay money to see these shows. If you have doubts, buy a cheaper ticket, but it's a must see.

Hot Pants said: "Can anyone who’s been looking at all of them say what the critics think of Issac Cole Powell as Tony? I’ve only read Brantley’s review so far and he had little to about Powell. I know some people on here think his performance might win the Tony, so I want to hear if critics’ reactions to him are pointing in that direction."

Helen Shaw at Vulture/New York seems to love him.

Tony isn't really a Tony-winning role ... as a point of reference Larry Kert was not nominated in the original B'way run.

''Tony isn't really a Tony-winning role ... as a point of reference Larry Kert was not nominated in the original B'way run.''

True. In fact, there have been several incarnations of ''West Side Story'' on Broadway, and so far, no one's who's even played Tony has been Tony-NOMINATED. Powell has a shot to break that trend. I've seen a couple of reviews single him out (for an often thankless role), and the pool of contenders for Best Actor in a Musical doesn't seem the deepest. By my count, other candidates could be Harry Hadden-Patton (''Flying Over Sunset'' ), Rob Hartrampf (''Diana'' ), Chris McCarrell (''The Lightning Thief'' ), Rob McClure (''Mrs. Doubtfire'' ), Brenock O'Connor (''Sing Street'' ), Aaron Tveit (''Moulin Rouge!'' ) and Tony Yazbeck (''Flying Over Sunset'' ). Anyone else? ... That said, Powell's shot at a Tony nomination is probably better than Shereen Pimentel's for Best Actress in a Musical because her category is so crowded and competitive.

Updated On: 2/20/20 at 11:06 PM

PalJoey said: "Anyone else looking forward to the Steven Spielberg/Tony Kushner movie?"

It’s probably my most anticipated film of the year.

ljay889 said: "“ But Ramasar, once cast, actually needed a very different form of directorial support. West Side Story requires enormous things of its performers, and Ramasar’s singing voice is unsteady, his acting, rendered ludicrous by his stage–Puerto Rican accent, hammy.”

https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/theater-review-a-new-west-side-story-onscreen-all-the-way.html"

This is obviously politically biased as Ramesar is the only person on that stage that can actually act. HATE the new Vulture critic!!!

Updated On: 2/21/20 at 11:35 PM

Owen22 said: "ljay889 said: "“ But Ramasar, once cast, actually needed a very different form of directorial support. West Side Story requires enormous things of its performers, and Ramasar’s singing voice is unsteady, his acting, rendered ludicrous by his stage–Puerto Rican accent, hammy.”

https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/theater-review-a-new-west-side-story-onscreen-all-the-way.html"

This is obviously politically biased as Ramesar is the only person on that states you can actually act. HATE the new Vulture critic!!!

"

You can’t prove that though. Plenty of people said he couldn’t act in Carousel before the accusations came out against him. Just because there’s controversy surrounding him doesn’t mean that someone disliking his performance is due to disliking him as a person.

Hot Pants said: "So far the general consensus still looks mixed. Can anyone who’s been looking at all of them say what the critics think of Issac Cole Powell as Tony? I’ve only read Brantley’s review so far and he had little to about Powell. I know some people on here think his performance might win the Tony, so I want to hear if critics’ reactions to him are pointing in that direction."

One review called Powell’s “Maria” revelatory and another said his take on Tony was worth the price of admission. He and Pimentel were singled out very positively in nearly every review.

people keep comparing this to Oklahoma! but i remember across the board raves from the major publications for that show, including for the performances, music, direction, staging, etc. etc. This feels decidely more mixed (particularly since NYT and Vulture were not at all positive).

I disagree with Brantley's snide discounting of Powell and Pimentel, and I enjoyed the show plenty, where he clearly did not but I really appreciate his articulating the wokifying to the point of distraction: the multicultural Jets being indistinguishable from the Sharks grows more and more ridiculous in my mind the longer it lingers.