WSS: Does the revival IMPROVE anything?

I hope this doesn't become a flame war or anything--I'd just like to see some discussion and opinions.

I haven't seen the WSS revival, just as many clips and images as I can find. I have seen past WSS productions, including both the mid 90s N American tour and the 99-2000 London production, both of which were essentially complete recreations of the original production from blocking to sets.

I admit, I'm a bit of a traditionalist in that I often think the original designs and especially choreography are as important to most of my fave shows as anything else (I'd kill to see my fave show Company done back as it originally was) while I also realize that sometimes this can backfire and create a museum piece, that it's often difficult to truly know what's original and what's not, and that new approaches to material can often create stunning shows (two of my fave theatre experiences were seeing the 90s revivals of Carousel and Show Boat). So I can see both sides of the story. Still I thought both productions of WSS played very well (particularly the London one which had a very strong cast when I saw it).

Anyway, so often it seems the consensus I read about the current revival is that it's largely good to great--but almost DESPITE the changes. People seem to like the set, and be so so about the costumes but I haven't heard anyone say they're an improvement on the originals. Similarly one of the points people like the best is the dancing, which is one of the things kept closest to the original (despite my one big upset--cutting a big chunk of the ballet).

SO I guess my question is, was it worth it to redesign and change the show? Would a similarly carefully done revival which kept faithful to the original have worked less or more well?

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Updated On: 11/11/09 at 08:12 PM

Thanks, Blaxx. I didn't even realize I spelled her name wrong.

Eric, I was very disappointed that the nightmare section was cut.

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Eric, how far are you from Stratford? Isn't there an amazing production of WSS that they did (or are still doing)?

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No.

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That was kinda my assumption--it's almost that the things that make it good and worth seeing were all things that were there from the original (well plus some of the cast).

I was one of the few who did not like Laurent's staging of LuPone/GYPSY, I enjoyed it as a semi-concert-production at City Center, but as a full fledged Broadway Production starring one of our first ladies of Musical Comedy, it left me cold.
Lack of any scenery that helps place the piece, the miming of the windows, a puppet lamb, etc., the cutting of crucial scenes including Rose's reprise all rubbed me the wrong way. I loved Boyd Gaines, but I found Benanti shrill, too attractive and yelly (I know that's not a word). And LuPone's theatrics and Diva fits when she should have been acting the sh*t out of a classic piece were. to me, atrocious.

I bring that all back up, because the critical, if not monetary success of LuPone/GYPSY must have been the incentive to revive WEST SIDE STORY. But as it has been beaten to death here, Laurents decided He knew how it should be done and only He knew how to do it. As it turned out, his major revelation to translate dialogue to Spanish, was wrong and has been somewhat changed.
His casting also brought a lot of controversy, Hosefina was a good choice for Maria and has proven herself worthy, Karen is still a very sore spot for us purists but the audiences and the TONY voters loved her. For me, Matt and Cody were terrible in these roles, Matt lacked in both the singing and acting and Cody's acting was so bad, I didn't even notice what a fine dancer he is. George was actually fine but since he spoke little English, he got totally lost.
I thought the ensemble was great and they danced the show wonderfully.
This production should have soared, the time was right and the talent is out there, and hopefully will be obvious as parts are recast.

I still think everyone should see it, either as a chance to see a classic on Broadway or how "not" to do a classic, you decide.

Updated On: 11/11/09 at 09:11 PM

In my opinion, there are certain pieces of theater that are timeless and strong enough to stand on their own without them being "freshened up." WSS is one of those pieces of theater.

I don't know why Arthur Laurents felt the need to bring a fresh approach to WSS. I know his partner thought he should but it was a bad idea. WSS doesn't need to be "freshened." It is perfect the way it is. It just needs a fantastic cast who is PROPERLY cast in the roles. For me, the only proper casting was Maria, Action, Graziella, and Baby John. And I personally think, that was the biggest downfall of this show. The casting was very poor. And that is not a knock on people like Matt Cavanaugh and Karen Olivo who I think are very talented performers....they just weren't right for these parts. I know Karen won the Tony, but IMO, she was the weakest Anita of all Anitas ever nominated.

I also think the Spanish was a huge mistake. I think it was handled very poorly. I think if you are going to go that route, you either go for it 100% or you don't do it at all. The Spanish was done half assed. It made it seem like more of a marketing ploy than a true representation of Puerto Rican culture. But from what I hear, the Spanish is pretty much out of the show at this point.

Arthur Laurents should have nothing to do with revivals of classic theater anymore, IMO. All he does is take his petty little issues he has with former collaborators out on the production so he can stick it in their faces. He doesn't enhance the productions or make them better.....he makes them worse. Because at 90+ yrs old, he still acts like a bratty 12 yr old. How is that good for theater....it isn't.

Having said all that, WSS is still WSS. I saw it because hearing that music still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up...it is so beautiful. And there are some good performances.

I had high expectations of the revival but I too, was quite disappointed with the acting and changes to the songs and staging. So, the revival for me wasn't an improvement. But I am glad it is doing very well.

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