West Side Story

Synopsis

Musical based on Romeo and Juliet about rival gangs in New York City. Original concept by Jerome Robbins who did the original choreography. Includes songs such as 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'America', 'Maria', 'Office Krupke', 'I feel pretty' and 'Somethings Coming'.

Our Review:

30 December 2002

It takes a brave creative mind to completely revamp a show that has been renowned for its staging and choreography for nearly half a century.

And West Side Story is probably the best-known show in the musical theatre canon, mainly for the style Jerome Robbins stamped firmly on it, both on stage and screen.

The show has often been hailed the greatest dance musical ever, so does this new production live up to its legendary reputation?

The answer is a resounding yes, thanks to a truly sterling cast and sublime work from David Needham, whose creative choreography and musical staging is outstanding from exciting prologue to sombre curtain call. From the opening of the prologue, seamlessly interweaving dance steps with fighting, to the energetic dance at the gym; through the fiery and feisty Sharks' banter of "America" and stunning Jets' number "Cool", Needham's watertight dancers perform every number to well-drilled perfection.

As for the leads, [Mark McGe...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.0.7) - 20 January 2003:

A production with no heart or passion. They sang the songs, danced the steps and said the lines and that was your lot! Boring. No tension or excitment at all. Didn't come close to the Haymarket's 1992 version, which I believe is the the same artistic team...so it's got to be the cast that are at fault...Sorry!...

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