West Side Story...Abstinence?

[DancerGirl16]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:14pm

I just saw West Side Story last night and they kept inserting the word "abstinence" randomly throughout the book....

Anyone have any idea why? Interpretations?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:17pm

The production is so mind-numbingly bad that they want everyone to "abstain" from thinking about it.

[DancerGirl16]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:30pm

It was so distracting! It seemed like the cast was suffering collectively from turrets syndrome.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:16pm

It wasn't all that random if you were paying attention to Gladhand in the scene.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 9:37pm

I was hoping this thread was gonna be about the Jonas Bros taking over the three male leads.
Updated On: 7/23/09 at 09:37 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:42pm

It wasn't random at all if you remember the Dance at the Gym scene, and I wouldn't say that it went "throughout the book" as it was only mentioned in that scene and during "Gee, Officer Krupke."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 11:15pm

You're forgetting "I Feel Abstinent."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 11:18pm

My brain is a little foggy - are these lines that were in the original, or is this something for the revival only. Feel free to post spoilers, as I'm not going to see the show.

And when I saw this thread title, all I could think about is how was this going to be about if Tony and Maria did it.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 11:47pm

I have to add to Phyllis's query. It has been a while since the last time I've done the show, but I don't remember any talk of abstinence in the script. Is my memory that bad or has the script been further tinkered with beyond all the Spanish translation.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 12:00am

"You're forgetting 'I Feel Abstinent.'"

Not to be confused with the duet "A Boy Who Abstains/I Have Abstained"

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:28am

"Tonight, tonight
I will abstain tonight..."

"When you're a Jet
You abstain all the way
You don't smoke cigarettes
Or have sex, no Jose!"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:30am

Seriously, though, what's up with the abstinence references for those who haven't seen the revival?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:40am

West Side Story: Straight Edge Edition.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:51am

Are you sure aren't thinking of the line where she says, "He just came to deliver aspirin?"

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 1:06pm

Abstinence makes the heart grow harder.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 1:12pm

I still do not understand.

No comprendo.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 2:02pm

Now I can only picture Karen Olivo sashaying about singing:
"I like to be Abstinent
Okay to be abstinent
Ask and you'll get no consent
I like to be abstinent"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 3:01pm

Look, if I can unearth Orfeh's real age getting this question answered shouldn't be that damn difficult!

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 7:08pm

Phyllis, we all know that one can read about dinosaurs on wikipedia.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 8:48pm

Now THAT was funny.

But seriously, I still don't understand this thread!

[IfYouCan]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 9:23pm

I'm not sure if it was added specifically for this production, but in the beginning of "The Dance at the Gym," Gladhand runs around to couples telling them to dance further apart and mentions that abstinence is important. Then it comes up again in "Gee, Officer Krupke" after Action sings "That's why I'm a jerk," he motions like he's jerking off and the kid playing the social worker screeches "Abstinence!"

[IfYouCan]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 9:23pm

Double post. Updated On: 7/23/09 at 09:23 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 9:26pm

Thank you! Finally!