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One of the fondest memories
of my childhood
was the play “West Side
Story.” Lucky us — it’s been
reimagined and revitalized
and superbly produced at the
Broadway Th eatre surrounded
by the bright lights of Times
Square.
Th e show fi rst graced the stage
in 1957 and its Romeo and Juliet
theme is as compelling today
as it was when it was created
by geniuses Leonard Bernstein,
Arthur Laurents, Stephen
Sondheim and Jerome Robbins.
Most of my favorite songs are
still in the show, but the revival
eliminated my favorite, the
show-stopping song “I Feel
Pretty.”
Th e brilliant Belgian director
Ivo van Hove leads the energized
revival and has given us
something unique. Th e show
Star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria bring to life the Romeo
and Juliet theme as the Sharks and Jets try to pull them
apart in a dramatic dance.
Photo by Jan Versweyveld
engaged all my senses as I felt
the enormous amount of excitement,
energy and passion of the
performers.
Th e stage has a massive video
screen backdrop that brings the
street scenes to life. Th e stage is
bare when the lights go up and
I was introduced to the Sharks
and Jets by seeing their tattooed
heads on the video screen that
stretches the entire width and
height of the stage.
I felt each menacing face and
their power, energy and pain as
if they were standing next to me.
Th e young and talented cast
brought their anger and frustration
of having to grow up on
a battlefi eld of the Upper West
Side with the Puerto Rican kids
fi ghting for turf with the multiethnic
American-born kids.
When Maria (Shereen
Pimentel) and Tony (Isaac
Powell) fi rst meet, I felt magic
in the air. Pimentel, a Juilliard
graduate and newcomer to a
starring role, ignites the audience
with her magnifi cent, soaring
soprano voice. When Maria
is joined on stage by Tony, time
seems to stand still and I cried
as they sang their love song
“Somewhere.”
But ringing in my head,
days aft er seeing the play, is
Tony’s rendition of “Maria,”
a show-stopping number that
mesmerizes the audience, and I
was overwhelmed by his singing
and love he felt for her.
Th e pulsating choreography
was new and brilliantly energetic,
reimagined from legendary
Jerome Robbins’ style by
Anne Teresa De Keesmaeker.
She has the dancers performing
athletically brutal moves and
fi ghting scenes set to the tone
of the Leonard Bernstein and
Stephen Sondheim’s music and
lyrics.
I was completely enthralled
by the massive video screens
that recreated the streets
and hangouts, dramatically
fooling my eyes.
Luke Hall’s videos
with the actors
appearing to be in
and out of the videos
was brilliant.
The cast sizzled
and made me
feel once again the
magic of “West Side
Story,” my favorite
musical now reimagined.
I loved every minute
of the hour and 45 minute
production. — I wished it
was longer. I’m greedy! Th e legend
lives on!
Victoria’s
DIARY
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
tweet me @vschneps
The legend lives on
The powerful choreography was reimagined by
Anne Teresa De Keesmaeker.
Photo by Jan Versweyveld
A massive screen provides a stunning backdrop to the actors on the stage.
Photo by Jan Versweyveld
Isaac Powell’s (Tony)
rendition of “Maria” was
a show-stopper.
Photo by Julieta Cervantes
Isaac Powell (Tony) and Shereen Pimentel (Maria)
brought magic to the stage.
Photo by Julieta Cervantes
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