West Side Story Review January 17 8:00 PM Washington DC (LONG)

[MisterSnow89]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 11:31am

This past week I had the great fortunate of being able to go to DC for the inauguration. Happily, I found out that I would be able to catch the final performance of WSS while in town. I won't be able to make it to New York this year to see any shows, and this revival was the one I was most anticipating, so I was thrilled that I was able to actually see it. So here is my review (SPOILERS):

Even though it suffered from several flaws and it was by no means perfect, I still loved it. I think maybe some of this is because WSS is masterpiece and it was my first time seeing it live. Since it was my first live performance and because it is a brilliant show, I think that is why I was able to overlook these flaws.

Bernstein's score and Sondheim's lyrics are incredible. I don't feel the need to elaborate because everyone already knows this. I would however like to talk about Robbins' choreography. I heard that it was masterful and I believed it. However, when they announced they were keeping it for the revival, i was a little disappointed. I mean the whole point of a revival is to bring something new to a show, and by keeping the choreograhy, it takes away from that. But now that I have seen it, I have completely changed my mind. Robbins work just blew me away. the dance was utterly breath-taking. It would have been a crime to try and give the show different choreography. I'm so thrilled they kept it now. And the cast executes it beautifully.

Now for the cast. Karen Olivo is just brilliant as Anita. She is firey and passionate and truly commands the stage when she is on. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, especially after her 'rape scene' in Doc's. She was utterly captivating. And as much as I love Chita, it was so nice to hear Anita's songs being sung by someone with a beautiful voice.

Josefina Scaglione also gave a dazzling performance as Maria. She really captured Maria's sweet innocence but also gave Maria a quiet strength. Her acting in the final scene was incredible; I could see Maria's innoncence dying right before my very eyes. Also Scaglione's voice is truly gorgeous.

As Tony, Matt Cavenaugh, was not spectacular, but he was very good. His voice too was beautiful. As a the young idealistic and hopeful Tony in Act One, he was terrific. But in Act 2, he was weaker. I was not at all moved when he was running through the streets begging Chino to kill him. I never would have believed in a million years that he was a person who thought that the love of his life was dead. I did think that he and Scaglione had great chemistry together (I especially loved the scene where they planned their wedding, right before singing One Hand, One Heart). However, I was not able to completely buy their love at first sight. I realize that is very difficult to portray well and is a weakness in the story, but it could have been done better.

I liked George Akram as Bernardo but I think it hurt having most of his dialogue in Spanish (more on the Spanish later). Cody Green as Riff was the one main weak link in the cast. His dancing was great, but his voice was nothing special and his acting was flat out bad (they should replace him with Curtis Holbrook). I really loved the rest of the Jets (esp. Holbrook as Action, Kyle Coffman as A-rab, and Ryan Steele as Baby John). As to the complaint that the Jets are not 'scary' enough, I believe that was intentional. The Jets are really just a group of young boys who just think they are tough. They really aren't menancing at all. They just get in over their heads after the rumble.

The sets were decent; I was not overly impressed. I feel Anna Louizos (In the Heights, Avenue Q) would have done a better job. The costumes were mediocre; I especially despised the purple attire that distinguished the Shark gang.

As for the new changes: Before I had seen the show, I thought the translation of some of the dialogue and the songs into Spanish was a terrific idea, but after seeing it I found it very displeasing. It just didn't work. Unless you're bilingual, the Spanish distances you from the story. One scene in particular in which this was evident was 'A Boy Like That/I Have a Love' (one of my favorite songs from the show). Olivo's and Scaglione's acting was truly incredible in this scene, but I was not able to connect because I don't understand the language. If there is one thing they should change between now and Broadway, it would be to revert the Spanish dialogue and songs back to English.

I liked the use of the young male soprano in the song 'Somewhere' on stage instead of having a soprano singing offstage. It helped convey the sense of purity and innocence Tony and Maria longed for. I loved the changes made to the final image. The picture of Maria sobbing over Tony's body was much more resounding (and depressing!) than the original.

Although I've made many critques, I truly did enjoy the show immensely. Despite its flaws, I feel it does justice to this masterpiece of musical theatre. I would highly recommend it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 11:36am

And as much as I love Chita, it was so nice to hear Anita's songs being sung by someone with a beautiful voice.


- You lost me there.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 11:43am

It always sounds like a large percentage of what people like about seeing this production is what they like about the underlying material itself. In other words, they like this revival for what they project into it.

If the NY critics do the same, this production could be a big success despite the production itself.

Not sure if that makes sense...

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 11:55am

It makes sense. I remember watching it and finding almost all the same flaws as MisterSnow and yet walking out of it thinking "that was FABULOUS - I've got to go back!"

I wasn't as troubled by the Spanish (which I don't speak) as MS, but I agree 200% that it completely destroys the impact of the Anita/Maria scene after the rumble. As I said before - if you already know that scene and what follows, you'll have no problem. But someone who isn't bi-lingual and doesn't know the show will be completely lost.

[Brick]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:15pm

It makes sense and I think you're right.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:38pm

"...a large percentage of what people like about seeing this production is what they like about the underlying material itself. In other words, they like this revival for what they project into it."

Is it possible that people who like it (or some of it), like not only the "underlying material," but also the parts that the current cast/musicians "get right?" That it's not all projection.

I agree with almost every criticism that posters here have noted, but couldn't it be -- (who knows?) -- that some of it is faithful to the spirit of the original?

[Haven't seen it, and admit that I treasure the score and choreography/want the show to succeed. Please don't kick me, I'm being sincere.]

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:49pm

Well, I can't wait to see it, and I want it to succeed, and I know and treasure every word, note, piece of choreography and light cue.

But even when I went to see the Chorus Line revival, I know that part of my enjoyment was just that it was back and I was still alive to see it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 1:16pm

MisterSnow, it's the writer and director who keeps saying the kids should be scarey and killers, but I agree with you that they are just kids.
The first time they even see a dead person is at the rumble and the scene following with the jets says exactly that.

One big thing this revival has going for it is that it hasn't been done on Broadway for quite some time and a lot of board members and lovers of the movie are seeing it for the first time.
And hearing that music and seeing that choreography live is mind blowing, of course.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/23/09 at 3:08pm

"One big thing this revival has going for it is that it hasn't been done on Broadway for quite some time and a lot of board members and lovers of the movie are seeing it for the first time."

That's a great point. I was a year old the last time WSS graced the Great White Way and had never seen anything other than the film. It was really nice to see it all unfold in front of me at the National Theatre last month. That's going to be a big selling point for the show. The fact that all of the people who loved the film and the music now get to see it on Broadway. I remember being an adolescent and all my friends LOVED the movie. And I'm sure there were a lot of young girls who felt the same way. Now they're ticket buying adults. The magic they remembered now can be seen live.

I didn't "love" what I saw in DC but I was at the second or third preview and by all accounts the show has evolved for the better since then. I'm, also, a little iffy on the Spanish. It's great in theory but I'm still not 100% sure how it'll fly on Broadway. Especially with how tough it's been to bring people into the theatres.

[Hiloha]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:33pm

So excited for this. I have followed Cavanaugh since I saw him in the touring company of Thoroughly Modern Millie so long ago.