West Side Story Revival 2009

here we go

I LOVE this revival. I'm latino so I loved the new spanish lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It's my favorite WSS cast recording. I hear it all the time. I love 'Un Hombre Así/I Have a Love' and the new 'Tonight (Quintet)'.. I got to see it on broadway (youtube) and on tour. It's one of my favorite theatrical experiences I've ever had.. well on the list lol

I am not a fan of this revival. Arthur Laurents disrespected the memory of Jerome Robbins' original choreography by dumbing it down. The costumes were "off": The Jet girls wearing tight mini skirts? Teenage girls did not dress like that in the late '50s. The gang members looked like they stepped out of the 2009 Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. Matthew Cavenaugh was miscast as "Tony". His performance was lacking and his line readings on the cast recording make me cringe.

Karen Olivo's performance as "Anita" was a highlight. Her acting more than made up for the revised choreography. Josefina Scaglione was wonderful as "Maria" and I really liked George Akram as "Bernardo".

I found the inclusion of Spanish totally unnecessary.

I had to go back a 2nd time to appreciate it. The 1st time had horrible understudies and cast members who should have never been given the role to begin with. My 2nd time, the dancing seemed a little sharper. And Jeremy Jordan was on as Tony. It's such a shame we had to suffer through Matter Cavanaugh at all. I know Jeremy was the alternate for whoever took over for Matt. But, he was so much better. Finally got to see Karen Olivo and why she got the Tony Award. And Josefina Scaglione was always fine.

I was probably the production's biggest champion on this board. There was a lot of negativity and hate spewed at the production and Tony winner Karen Olivo when she had attendance problems.

Also, the Spanish lyrics were not completely removed. They were changed to a Spanglish mix which worked much better with "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love."

Karen Olivo is not a terrible dancer. She's a fine dancer, but the original Anita choreography needs a more skilled dancer to execute it. She acted the hell out of that part though, in that respect she totally deserved the Tony Award she won. For the record she is the only actress or actor to have won a Tony for West Side Story.

Updated On: 7/5/15 at 11:38 AM

Besides the OBC of Spring Awakening, I have never heard a cast recording with truly awful line readings. "They are strict with me please"

There's a thread called something like "Pal Joey Reviews His Beloved West Side Story" that hits the nail on the head regarding this production.

I believe what was said by some when it opened was that, Anita should be played by a triple threat and Karen apparently was not that. Many disliked that during the "dance at the gym" Riff's girlfriend was dancing circles around Karen. I believe some others said Karen was the worst Anita to ever play Broadway.

I believe some others said Karen was the worst Anita to ever play Broadway.

Not sure if that really was said. It was a nasty time around here, but not sure how one could make that assertion without having seen every Anita on Broadway. Even Karen's biggest critic, Pal Joey, noted that she is a very talented woman, just not what he expects from an Anita. Plus most posters here haven't even seen every Anita on Broadway, given that the original production was in 1957. Some members of ATC probably saw Chita.

Updated On: 7/5/15 at 03:57 PM

Not sure if that really was said. It was a nasty time around here, but not sure how one could make that assertion without having seen every Anita on Broadway

It was definitely said. I doubt that statement was shared by everyone of her naysyers but it was definitely said. It was something along the lines of " She may have won the tony but she is the worst Anita to be on Broadway"

And yeah I agree, you can't really make that statement without seeing the original.

I very much enjoyed the tour when it came through. I like the recording alright but it's a major mixed bag.

That being said I do really enjoy those recordings of "Dance At The Gym" and the "Somehwhere Ballet."

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 01:16 AM

I believe what PalJoey says, because this was my first exposure to the show and I absolutely did not understand what the big deal was. It seemed surprisingly stagnant and talky. I was 19 at the time. The music and dancing were not terribly exciting, the performances were bland. Am I remembering correctly that Laurents said that he wanted some of the scenes in Spanish because of margin notes scribbled in a paperback at a used bookstore that he thought were sent by a dead lover, or something?

Anyway, I later got to see the movie in 70mm with gorgeous sound on a huge screen. Then I got it.

Updated On: 7/6/15 at 08:51 AM