West Side Story | Arts Centre Melbourne 2019

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https://opera.org.au/whatson/events/west-side-story-melbourne

Date Reviewed: 17/04/2019

It is broad daylight as I make my way to Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre for the staging of West Side Story. I wait for the curtain to go up. The stage is framed by scaffolding, reminiscent of dark backstreets and fire-scapes. The familiar music score, only a few note at the start, the finger clicking of the dancers and instantly, I am transported to upper west side Manhattan. Excitement! The show has begun!

West Side Story is a take on Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet transformed from the original feud between families to a teenage gang war in the slums of New York. Its action arises over a gang member who falls in love with the rival gang’s sister.  It is a timeless tale of a love between two people of different backgrounds that cannot be consummated because of hatred and racial intolerance.  As all good stories go, this one is also based on a true story. 

Although West Side Story has been coined a musical tragedy, it would rob the musical to call it just that. This is clear as I watch the show today. The State Theatre is on fire as the cast leaps into electrifying kinetic energy from the beginning and grips the audience until it delivers us to the inevitable tragic end.  This musical has a kaleidoscope of hues. Throughout the two-hour performance so many emotions arise from joy, ecstasy, hope, tension and of course sadness. 

As I flip through the program, I have a sense of pride at the achievements of our hard working, young performers. If you have children who are interested in or are performing in The Arts, bring them to see this show. Buy a program and read together about some of these young stars. It is clear that the cast performing today, each individual is on stage not by sheer luck but through hard work, determination and passion. 

The success of this musical is expected, with Bernstein’s sophisticated music, Jerome Robbins intoxicating ballet and jazz routines and Sondheim’s powerful lyrics. However, let’s not underestimate the complexity in being able to deliver what is expected. This is a truly triple threat show, which demands authenticity; accurate and emotive acting; exemplary singing as per score and fiery, sleek dancing. Today’s show is certainly all these things.

Treat yourself to a spectacular presentation of West Side Story.