There are some Broadway musicals that become classics, ones that last on Broadway much longer than the newbies that seem to come and go so quickly. They have stories that people already know bits and pieces of before they even enter the theatre. This past week one of those beloved Broadway classics, “West Side Story,” was brought to the Wharton stage.
The orchestra in the pit beings and a few men cross the stage, then the significant snap that is so well known from West Side comes from Riff’s fingers and the dancing begins and oh, the dancing.
From the minute that first group begins to dance you realize why Jerome Robbins, the choreographer, won a Tony for the show.
There were the leaps that made it seem as if they had stopped in mid air. The lifts during “Somewhere” that made it look as it they had become one single person, blending together, moving as one. There were different types of dance throughout, with each performer getting to showcase a variety of talents, further proving why this is a dream show for any dancer.
The dancing throughout tells more of the story than anything else, all I needed were those swift, graceful movements going across the stage to be hooked.
The orchestra in the pit also had the ability to say so much with just a few notes. The first few minutes of the show have no dialogue at all, but none were needed, what the dancing didn’t say the music did.
After those first moments of music and dancing the rest of the story unfolds. As anyone who has ever heard of “West Side Story” knows it’s all about the Jets vs. the Sharks, two rival gangs that have such disdain for one another, with their different ethnicities playing a large role in it.
Riff, played by Drew Foster, suggests to the group that they, the Jets, set up a rumble against the Sharks, a once for and for all battle to decide which gang rules the Upper West Side of New York City.
This then leads to Riff trying to get Tony, a former member of the Jets to fight with them, but not before going to the dance where Riff will suggest this fight to Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks, and where Tony will meet Maria.
Much like Romeo and Juliet the two star-crossed lovers have a very similar tale, one filled with so much passion and love but ultimately showing that love isn’t always enough.
Ross Lekites and Evy Ortiz, respectively, fill the very large boots of the many that have played these roles before them. During the first act I found their characters to be slightly dull, even though the singing was fantastic. But during the second act is when they come into their own, adding much more to the leads and finally showcasing the depths that they are both capable of.
While Tony and Maria are two of the obvious ones to watch Anita, played by Lori Ann Ferreri, was by far my favorite. She was sassy and funny during the first act and heart wrenching to watch during the second. When Ferreri sang “America” you couldn’t help but notice how much fun she was having during the number, making you like her all the more.
Whether it be the singing, dancing, or acting “West Side Story” is the true definition of show stopper with every actor bringing their all and showing that being a triple threat is truly in all of them, making it a show that will be on the stage for a very long time to come.
