By Tina Arth
When Broadway Rose produces one of my all-time favorite
musicals, of course I expect to enjoy it, so it was no surprise to me that I
loved the opening night performance of West
Side Story. However, I was caught off-guard by the sheer beauty of this
production, which left me (and many other people) in tears at the final curtain
as I joined the audience’s enthusiastic standing ovation. Of course, the show has a flawless pedigree:
concept and choreography by Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, music by
Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim – all with a bloodline that
traces directly to Shakespeare’s Romeo
and Juliet.
It makes no sense to me to call West Side Story “dated.” The slang, clothing, attitudes and
ambience are very much tied to the immigrant gang culture of New York City in
the early 1950s, and the story is told through the xenophobic lens of the era
(not so different from our own?). Like their Shakespearean predecessors, Tony
and Maria are star-crossed lovers, determined to wed despite the ferocious
social pressures of their families and peers; like Romeo and Juliet, they
consummate their love but come to a tragic end. West Side Story is not the first Broadway musical to use love’s
blindness to illustrate the deeply rooted racism within American culture
(notably, think 1949’s South Pacific)
but, unlike its theatrical predecessors, it builds the entire story around this
theme, and puts its focus on the irony of our newest immigrants being demonized
by those who arrived only one generation earlier.
The challenge of doing justice to a show with such a
powerful story and distinguished lineage is intensified by the need for young
performers, as all but a few characters are in their late teens. However, Director Peggy Taphorn, Music
Director Alan D. Lytle, and Choreographer Jacob Toth) and their cast are more
than up to the task. The choreography has a few surprises, especially the male
ensemble. In place of “America’s Got Talent” style dance crew synchronicity,
these Jets and Sharks are distinguished by an athleticism and raw energy that
eloquently tells the story of their adolescent frustration. Houston import Austin
Arizpe (“Bernardo”) provides the focal point for the show’s anger and angst; a
world of hurt that he cannot express in words explodes from his leaping,
high-kicking performance. Another dance surprise is the exquisite ballet
sequence by Mia Pinero (“Maria”) – instead of relying on an outside ballerina,
she does her own exquisite dancing and leaves the “Somewhere” vocal to an
amazing off-stage vocalist (Amber Kiara Mitchell).
While the dance is engaging and evocative, it’s the
overwhelming solo and ensemble vocals that move this West Side to the highest level. Mia Pinero and Andrew Wade (“Tony”)
move seamlessly through some of the most beautiful love songs ever written, and
their duets are spine tingling. Pinero perfectly captures Maria’s otherworldly
innocence, and Wade is utterly believable as her partner in a world inhabited
only by the two lovers. Kayla Dixon (“Anita”) is a stunning spitfire, a fine
dancer, and a spectacular singer – her work with Beknar Bermudez (“Rosalia”)
and the rest of the Sharks’ girls in “America” is sharply humorous – a treat
for the eyes and the ears, and as good a rendition of this number as I have
seen.
The uniform strength of the cast means that it’s difficult
to select other individual performances, with one exception. The adults in West Side Story are mostly
one-dimensional and tend to be played that way, but Mark Pierce (“Doc”) brings
some real depth to his character, especially in Act II. His “Doc” is sensitive,
fair, and loving, and his anguish at being unable to change the world around
him shines through.
In case I’ve been too subtle – this show is remarkable,
powerful, beautiful, moving, and definitely worth a few hours out of the life
of anyone with even a hint of appreciation for musical theater. Don’t delay
buying tickets – many performances are already almost sold out, and those who
wait will miss out on something spectacular.
Broadway Rose’s West
Side Story runs through July 24th at Tigard High School’s Deb Fennell
Auditorium.
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