West Side Story will keep audiences glued to their seats

From left to right Beau Middlebrook, Mathew Couvillon, Mitchell Woodcock, Michael Bullard, Andrew Purcell.

Broadway has given birth to quite a few fantastic plays over the decades and West Side Story is arguably one of the most memorable classics ever produced in musical theatre history. It has all the elements needed to go over the top and keep the audience’s full attention. This Romeo and Juliet story has moved from 1600s Europe to modern day, gang infested, graffiti laden New York City. The rival “families” involved are two gangs who despise each other because of their different racial backgrounds. 

Maria, played by Elena Sancho Pereg, and Tony, by Liam Tobin, both capture the needed passion, desperation and grief needed for the two tragedy bound main characters who are madly in love. The fiery Anita, characterized by the perfectly sharp and crispy Penelope Armstead-Williams, is a breath of fresh air for all theatre goers who want to see someone whose passions, laughter and anger are a heartbeat away from popping up to the surface. She exudes volatility in every scene.

The rich musical score by the legendary Leonard Bernstein and the unforgettable Stephen Sondheim lyrics are truly magnificent and as fresh as ever. Both the music and the lyrics are timeless masterpieces that can stand on their own in any decade or any century.

The dancing in this fantastic production is something so original and imaginative that it makes you wonder if the original choreographer, (Jerome Robbins) came from Mars or Saturn. One reviewer of the Saddler’s Wells show in London wrote, “The strength of this revival lies in the dancing.” Nothing could be truer. Watching the Shark girls live it up in ‘America’ and the Jet boys snap it out in ‘Cool’ was the perfect testament to this strength. Beau Middlebrook’s performance of Snowboy was something that caught our attention. His jumping abilities and timing were not only perfect, but also mesmerizing to watch specifically in the ‘Spit.’ Michael Bullard as Baby John was also a delight to watch in the shows “Scherzo Ballet”.

Even though West Side Story is almost sixty years old, fans still come in droves. The beautiful and shocking (at the same time) music, the terrific singing and the brilliant dancing never get old, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.