Review: West Side Story, Mayflower, 23 April 2014
Winchester Today's David Cradduck LOVED to be in America! Fast, furious, frenetic, fabulous – four stars!
The latest incarnation of classic musical West Side Story took downtown Southampton by storm this week.
It is perhaps fitting that as the day we watched this elderly but hugely energetic show at The Mayflower it was also William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday (and death day too, apparently).
It was The Bard’s dramatic tale of passion, unrequited love, prejudice and violence –Romeo and Juliet - that inspired the creators of West Side Story in the late 50s.
The big difference is that instead of the doomed passion of the two young lovers being set amongst feuding aristocratic families, the Montagues and the Capulets, the backdrop for this story is the turmoil of post war New York streets and the gang warfare between the Jets – young rebellious, disillusioned American whites – and the Sharks, incomers from Peurto Rico seeking the American Dream.
This phase in New York’s history was a troubled one –crime, unemployment and poverty hit an all time high, the tension between the multi-ethnic communities and the police a constant simmering pot of tension and delinquency.
It all seems an unlikely place to set such a colourful, flamboyant musical, given all those foot-tapping and infectious songs we grew up knowing so well: ‘Tonight’, ‘Maria’, ‘America’ and ‘Somewhere’ from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim are as familiar to many a generation as more recent West End showstoppers.
But though the storyline is intense and gritty, this amazing show never fails to entertain our emotions – it is funny, poignant, sad, maddening, heart warming and heart stopping all in the same bag.
Outstanding above all is the superb, near-balletic dancing, choreographed by director Joey McKneely.
To cast a show which relies on young men and women who can dance effortlessly, sing with near operatic voices and act their socks off is a tricky job, but not only has this production managed it but also boasts an amazing line-up of back-ups, standbys and understudies to ensure perfection despite illness.
If I hadn’t been told that Charlotte Baptie would be playing Maria and Sinead Kenny would be standing in for Anita, I for one wouldn’t have known, such was the dynamism and professionalism that they brought to both roles.
Louis Maskell as young hero Tony, Javier Cid as Shark leader Bernardo and Jack Wilcox as Riff, complete the principle set with brilliant performances but this is very much a supreme example of great teamwork.
Paul Gallis’s Upper West Side street set was superbly lit by designer Peter Halbsgut – indeed for me the lighting plays a huge role in scene-setting and creating the mix of moods – the use of colour and backlighting is particularly stunning.
Add a skillfully balanced orchestra and energetic musical director in Ben van Tienen and this street-tough show is complete.
If he was here to see it, creator, producer, director and choreographer Jerome Robbins from the original Broadway show would be highly satisfied that his dream show lives on and is as relevant today as it was all those years ago.
West Side Story runs at the Mayflower until 3rd May when it moves to Nottingham before taking in nine more venues and final curtain in September.www.mayflower.org.uk
