West Side Story: Bristol Hippodrome

Thursday 2nd July 2009

This is a Crackerjack review of West Side Story. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 9 / 10.

Viewed by many as the show that changed the face of musical theatre forever, the Broadway classic West Side Story took the story of Romeo and Juliet and thrust it in to the world of New York street gangs in the Fifties.

With music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book written by Arthur Laurents and unparalleled choreography by Jerome Robbins, it was a massive hit in 1958. Now, 50 years after making its London debut, it’s just as significant and just as impressive.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, this authorised anniversary production opened at Sadler's Wells last year and has been on an extensive UK tour. And if you haven't already booked your tickets to see it at Bristol's Hippodrome, you had better snap them up smartish, because everyone at last night's performance is sure to encourage their friends and family to experience it.

Set on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, West Side Story explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs; one white and the other Puerto Rican. When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of one of the rival gang’s leader, the feud takes on a new dimension. As their love blossoms, so begins a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred.

The set has been described by some critics as being rather clunky but in my opinion the gigantic structures, which perfectly evoke the fire escapes of New York brownstone buildings, only served to emphasise the grandeur and urban grittiness of this classic show.

Sofia Escobar with her pitch-perfect voice shined as Maria, exuding the luminosity of a girl in love. And although Daniel Koek looked a little too long in the tooth to embody the young gang member Tony, his vocal performance was outstanding. Plaudits should also go to Jayde Westaby as Anita and Dan Burton as her ill-fated boyfriend Bernardo.

The show, of course, includes all the now-classic songs such as America, Somewhere, I Feel Pretty, Tonight and Maria. But what really sets this musical aside from others is the choreography, which is stunning.

Jerome Robbins’ original choreography has been painstakingly recreated with a contemporary twist by director Joey McKneely, who was Robbins’ former assistant. The group numbers, in particular, were visually enthralling and exhilarating.

The performances are also extremely moving. Anita’s assault by the Jets is truly unsettling and the final headlong rush to disaster is breathtaking.

The scene where the cast dress in white and the recently murdered characters reappear feels rather out of place, but this is a small criticism of an otherwise excellent show.

Fifty years on, West Side Story is still easily one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time.

Natalie Hale

This is a Crackerjack review of West Side Story. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.