West Side Story is a dance show, and right from the opening number. the awesome acrobatic dancers performing Jerome Robbins' brilliantly spectacular choreography as reproduced by Joey McKneely is thrilling to watch as played out on the marvelous, powerful set by James Youmans.
Directed by the author of the book, Arthur Laurents, this rendition of the musical, with its Romeo and Juliet story and unforgettable music by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, still stands as one of the greatest shows in musical theatre history. Two days later, the melodies are still spinning through my head. The lighting by Howell Binkley is magical, the dancing exquisite. Costumes by David C. Woolard, except for what look like orange Gap T-shirts on three of the white boys, are quite good, especially on the PR dancing girls. Josefina Scaglione is a lovely, sensitive clear-voiced Maria, George Akram is a sexy and convincing Bernardo, and Karen Olivo as Anita, the most dynamic person on the stage, steals the show with her beauty, presence, voice, movement, verve and charisma. She's a star. Not so Matt Cavenaugh as Tony. Seems like a nice boy in the wrong play - without the dash, splash, panache, fire, strength of a Romeo who is supposed to be the acknowledged leader of his pack. Sorry.
Most of the rest of the acting is poor - lines recited amateurishly by the boys and the plainclothes cop. But those boys can dance, jump, fight, fly superbly. Also, some of the speaking in Spanish is fine, but more English would be more appropriate for an American audience who does not speak Spanish -- like me. A song like "I feel Pretty" needs at least one verse in English. But I quibble. It's a great show, Laurents' punch line to each of the two acts is touching, moving, and all that it should be; and the rendition now on Broadway is the only West Side Story in town. You have to see it; it's basically terrific.
