With a book by Arthur Laurents, based on ideas by Jerome Robbins and a story based on Shakespeare's 'Romeo And Juliet', with music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, it is little wonder that 'West Side Story' has continued to be one of the world's most loved and popular musicals of all time. However, it is not an easy musical by any means. Act one resembles a ballet more than anything, whilst act two is far more Grand Opera. The music (as you might expect from Bernstein) is challenging and non-conformist, and yet the melodies are soaring and the rhythms incredibly catchy. Needless to say perhaps after such an introduction, but it requires a cast of highly multi-talented performers to be able to carry it off with any success.
This evening I had the opportunity of visiting the Greater Manchester town of Hyde, to see Hyde Musical Theatre Company tackle this show at the town's Festival Theatre. I was not disappointed.
On entering the auditorium, the open composite set showed an array of metal scaffolding and rostra, with many ladders pointing in all directions. This mirrored the more seedy back streets of New York with their ladder fire escapes on the backs of their buildings nicely. All of this was to the rear of the stage allowing a large open performance area in front of it; whilst the two side 'wings' of the stage had been decorated to be used as Doc's Drugstore (stage right), and Anita's bedroom (stage left). Generally good and imaginative use of the space allowed the show to flow speedily and swiftly, with our eyes constantly being drawn to the central action in varying parts of their performance space.
The cast was headed by a personable Matthew McGoldrick as Tony, whose soft light tenor tones impressed, whilst Kat Rawling's plaintive Maria was a little more grounded. Working well together they proved to be a worthy pair to lead the strong cast, as together they negotiated their predestined path from 'star-cross'd lovers' to avoidable tragedy. Riff, the now-leader of the Jets was played with real earnestness by Ben Vaughan, whilst his counterpart on the Puerto-Rican Sharks' side was Bernado, who had been given a very 'Godfather-esque' characterisation by a very watchable Kit Philips. Maria's best friend Anita was played this evening by Alison Baines, giving her character a sincere and urgent disposition, and her singing was a delight. Steven Cheeseman impressed as the Jet's second-in-command, Action, again giving a real and sincere performance and is obviously a very strong and talented performer. Maddison Lees trod the knife-edge path between being wanting to be a part of the gang as a tomboy, but also wanting to be accepted as a girl in her own right too, as Anybody's. Whilst Tony George made for a very believable and world-weary compassionate Doc.
The company was made up with many others (too many to name), but all had their own recognisable characters and made a formidable ensemble in the chorus numbers. I loved 'The Dance At The Gym', 'America', and the 'Somewhere/ Dream Sequence' in act two. Mentioning which, I should give due credit to Simon Fitzpatrick, whose choreography, (given the size of the stage and the number of people on it) was incredible. Exciting, apt, and generally excellently executed. Full credit too to the fight director (uncredited), whose fight sequences were realistic and thrilling.
A couple of things worked less well for me this evening. The lighting design was not optimal, and seemed to cast principals in shadows or darkness when they should have been lit, and some of the 'specials' used simply didn't make any sense to me, finding it more of a distraction rather than adding to the narrative drive. Musically, under the direction of Dave Chapman, the singing was secure and powerful, but the band did sound a little out of time or tune at times sadly. My only other comment is more of a suggestion really; but perhaps a little more of an obvious visual difference between 'Polaks / Jets' and 'Puerto-Ricans / Sharks' would have been easier for the audience to appreciate. Remember the old Western films where the baddies wore black hats and the good guys wore white?? The white t-shirts and blue jeans idea only worked to a point.
All-in-all, this was a wonderful show, intelligently brought to life, sincerely performed and is a credit to both all those on stage this evening and the society. Felicidades.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 29.3.23
on - 29.3.23
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