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West Side Story is a musical written by Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), and was originally produced, choreographed, and directed by Jerome Robbins. West Side Story debuted on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater on September 26, 1957 and played 732 performances before going on tour - a very successful run for the time.
The plot is loosely adapted from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, in that the best friend of a gang leader falls in love with the relative of a rival gang's leader.
The dark theme, sophisticated music, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in English language musical theater, which had previously (with rare exceptions) tended toward light and fluffy themes. West Side Story is still produced frequently by local theaters and is occasionally produced by classical opera companies.
Bernstein's score for the musical has been extremely popular. Some of the songs include "Something's Coming," "Maria," "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight," "Gee, Officer Krupke," "I Feel Pretty," "One Hand, One Heart," and "Cool." Some music he wrote but did not use later became integrated into the Chichester Psalms.
Worth noting is that the production made a commentary on racism in a time when public displays, or articulations of race issues (and many other issues that are commented on in the production), was uncommon in popular mainstream films and entertainment.
Specifically contained in the song "America", what stands out is that the movie version (1961), plays the United States as the horrible place to live, versus the play version (1957), in which Puerto Rico is portrayed as a poorer choice to live.
In 1984, Bernstein decided to re-record the musical, conducting his own music for the first time. Generally known as the "operatic version" of West Side Story, it stars Kiri Te Kanawa as Maria, José Carreras as Tony, Tatiana Troyanos as Anita, Kurt Ollman as Riff, and Marilyn Horne who sings "Somewhere" as an anonymous character. It won a Grammy award in 1985 and the recording process was filmed as a documentary.
The original 1957 stage production starred Larry Kert as Tony and Carol Lawrence as Maria
A 1980 Broadway revival starred Debbie Allen as Anita. A 1987 tour starred Jack Wagner as Tony. A 1995 tour starred Marcie Harriell as Maria and H.E. Greer as Tony. A 1998 tour starred Rikki Lee Travolta as Tony. A 2002 tour starred Natasha Harper as Maria.
George Chakiris, who won an Academy Award as Bernardo in the 1961 film version of West Side Story, originated the role of Riff in the 1958 London stage premiere.
Synopsis
Act 1
In the Prologue, a conflict between two rival teenage gangs, the Jets (2nd generation Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans) is enacted through dance. The boys are struggling for control of the neighborhood. Accented by police whistles and taunting phrases, the Prologue establishes the fierce rivalry between the two groups.Following a brief exchange with the ineffective policemen, Lt. Schrank and Officer Krupke, Riff, the leader of the Jets, devises a plan to gain control of the street ("The Jet Song"). The members of the gang boast of their strength, restate their bond to one another and declare their intention to protect their turf. Riff and the Jets decide to initiate a rumble, with control of the neighborhood as a prize for the winning gang.
Riff has a harder time getting his best friend Tony to re-join the gang. Riff convinces Tony to join the Jets at the neighborhood dance where Riff's plan will be put into motion. Tony agrees out of a sense of loyalty to Riff, but expresses his unhappiness with his current life. He feels himself growing away from the gang and envisions a different and better future ("Something's Coming").
Maria, the sister of the Shark leader, Bernardo, has only been in America a short time. She works with Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, in the bridal shop. Anita is making Maria a dress to wear to the neighborhood dance. Maria sees this dance as the official beginning of her life in this country. Like Tony, she is full of hope. Bernardo arrives with Chino, a quiet, intense member of the Sharks. Maria's family has selected Chino to be her future husband.
A social worker, the Gladhand, introduces the rival gang members and their girls; they dance sociably for about two minutes. Then a challenge dance erupts. Tony and Maria, however, suddenly see one another. In a moment of romantic suspension, they dance together, oblivious of the tension around them. They fall in love. The romantic idyll is interrupted when Bernardo roughly pulls Maria from Tony's arms. Maria is sent home, as Riff and Bernardo arrange a War Council at the local coffee shop which is considered neutral ground.
Unaware of the plan between the two leaders, an ecstatic Tony sings of his newfound love ("Maria"). As he sings, Maria appears on a fire escape above him. They profess their love for each other ("Tonight").
Anita and Rosalia, along with other Puerto Rican girls, are gathered on a city rooftop. They begin to express conflicting views about their lives in the United States ("America").
At the drugstore, the shopkeeper, Doc, tries to convince the Jets not to have a rumble with the Sharks. The gang try to show Doc their pent-up tension they feel ("Cool"). Ignoring Doc, Riff and Bernardo set up the rumble for the next day and agree on weapons. Tony suggests a less dangerous fist fight. After the others leave, Tony dismisses Doc's fear with his conviction nothing can go wrong because he is in love with Maria.
The next day, Maria learns about the rumble from Anita at the Bridal Shop. When Tony arrives, Anita leaves. Maria begs Tony to stop the rumble and he promises her he will. They enact a mock marriage ceremony ("One Hand, One Heart") swearing that "even death can't part us now."
Later that night the boys on both sides prepare for the upcoming rumble, Anita prepares for her date with Bernardo after the rumble,and Tony and Maria sing of the excitement they feel for when they will see each other again ("Tonight Quintet").
Tony tries to stop the rumble in progress under a highway. In the midst of insults, pushing, and shoving, Bernardo stabs Riff. In blind fury, Tony stabs Bernardo. The sirens scream; everyone runs except Tony, who stands transfixed. Anybodys, a tomboy whose dream is to become a Jet, has followed the gang, and prods Tony to escape, just in time. The curtain comes down on a stage which is empty except for the bodies of Riff and Bernardo.
Act 2
Unaware of the tragedy under the highway, Maria sings to her friends about her reactions to love ("I Feel Pretty"). She speaks of marriage, and her friends assume she is thinking about Chino. Chino enters with the news Tony has killed Bernardo. Left alone, Maria is praying; Tony enters through the window. He explains why he killed Bernardo in a moment of anger over Riff's death. Maria forgives him, and they declare their determination to be together. They both imagine a new world where they can live together in peace and acceptance ("Somewhere"). At the end of the dream, Tony and Maria are in her bed, in each other's arms.In an alley, the bumbling Officer Krupke is questioning the Jets about the murders. The gang ridicules him and the adults (social workers, cops, psychiatrists, and judges) who fail to understand what motivates their behavior ("Gee, Officer Krupke").
Anita arrives at Maria's apartment. Tony escapes through the window, telling Maria to meet him at the drugstore so they can run away together. Anita realizes Tony has been with Maria and turns on Maria in fury for making love to the man who killed her (Maria's) brother ("A Boy Like That"). However, when Maria explains ("I Have a Love"), Anita realizes Maria loves Tony as much as she loved Bernardo. She warns Maria Chino has a gun and is planning to kill Tony. When Shrank arrives to question Maria, Anita agrees to go to the candy store to tell Tony to wait for her.
Anita is prevented from reaching Tony by the ethnic prejudice of the Jets. The gang's verbal taunting of Anita gets physical and is turning into rape when she is saved by Doc. In her fury and humiliation, Anita lies and tells Tony's buddies Chino has killed Maria.
Doc tells Tony, who is hiding in his cellar, Maria and his dreams for the future are gone because she is dead. Tony runs out to find Chino. On the street, Tony sees Maria. As they run towards each other Chino appears and shoots Tony. Tony is still alive, but struggling. As Maria the Jets and Sharks flock around the lovers, Maria tries to pull Tony back from the brink of death ("Somewhere Reprise") . But Tony is mortally wounded, and he dies in Maria's arms. The adults arrive at the scene, and Maria takes Chino's gun. She tells everyone that hatred is what killed Tony and the others, and now she can kill them because their hate has affected her. But she is unable to bring herself to fire it, and she collapses in her grief. She brings the cycle of violence that the gangs have had to an end.
Gradually, members of both gangs assemble on either side of Tony's body. They agree to stop their feuding and resolve their differences, as Maria kisses him gently. The Jets and Sharks form a procession and together they carry Tony offstage while the adults stand by, still helpless.
Dramatis Personae
The Jets
- Riff- the leader
- Tony- his friend, and one of the founding members of the Jets, former leader
- Diesel- Riff's second best friend and senior Jet
- Action- Another Jet senior, he is the most enthusiatic of the gang
- A-Rab- A newer, street smart member (this actor typically understudies Baby John)
- Baby John- Just as his name suggests, he is the youngest and smallest of the Jets
- Snowboy- The brawler of the group
- Big Deal- Another rookie Jet
- Gee-Tar- Another rookie Jet (this actor typically understudies Tony)
- Tiger- Another rookie Jet (this actor typically understudies Riff and Action)
Their Girls
- Graziella- Riff's girl
- Velma
- Minnie
- Clarice
- Pauline
- Anybodys-A tomboy, who dreams of being part of the gang.
- Alex
The Sharks
- Bernardo, The Leader
- Chino- Bernardo's Friend and Maria's embittered fiancé.
- Pepe
- Indio
- Chavo
- Luis
- Anxious
- Nibbles
- Juano
- Toro
- Moose
Their Girls
- Maria- Bernardo's Sister and Tony's love interest
- Anita, Bernardo's Girl
- Rosalia
- Consuelo
- Francisca
- Teresita
- Estella
- Rosita
The Adults
- Lt.Schrank
- Officer Krupke
- Doc - The local drugstore owner, boss and mentor to Tony. Although he tries to counsel Tony, he ironically sends Tony to his death with a supposed message that Maria has died (à la Romeo and Juliet.)
- Principal Gladhand
Shakespearean Counterparts
Some of the characters in West Side Story have counterparts in Romeo and Juliet.
- Tony / Romeo
- Maria / Juliet
- Chino / Paris
- Bernardo / Tybalt
- Riff / Mercutio
- Anita / Nurse
- Doc / Friar Laurence
Confidante/father figure to the male lead. Friar Laurence blesses and officiates Romeo and Juliet's private nuptials. Doc loans a considerable amount of money to Tony so that he may flee New York City with Maria. Keeping with a theme of tragic irony, both characters unwittingly send the male leads to their deaths by relating the tragic "news" that Maria/Juliet has died.
Musical Numbers
Act One
- Prologue (dance sequence)
- Jet Song - Riff and the Jets
- Something's Comin' - Tony
- The dance at the gym (dance sequence)
- Maria - Tony
- Balcony Scene (Tonight) - Tony and Maria
- America - Anita, Rosalia and the Shark Girls
- Cool - Riff and the Jets
- One Hand, One Heart - Tony and Maria
- Tonight - Tony, Maria, Riff, Bernardo, Anita (and, optionally, the Jets and the Sharks)
- The Rumble (dance sequence)
Act Two
- I Feel Pretty - Maria, Rosalia, Consuela, and Francisca
- Ballet Sequence
- Interpolating: Somewhere (A girl)
- Gee, Officer Krupke - Action and the Jets
- A Boy Like That/I Have A Love - Maria and Anita
- Taunting scene (dance sequence)
- Finale (Tony and Maria)
Basis upon tritone
The work is notable for being largely based upon the interval of a tritone, also known as an augmented fourth or diminished fifth. This interval, the basic dissonance, normally represents tension or unrest and so fits very well with the story of the musical. The tritone is most obvious in the first two notes of the song "Maria" (in this case the distance between E-natural and B-flat), but there are instances of the interval in nearly every number in the musical. The first three notes of the song span a tritone and then a rising half step, a motive first introduced in the Prologue that is very important in the entire musical, appearing in numbers such as the "Mambo" and "Rumble" and forming the both ostinato bass line and the melody of the song "Cool." In addition, the accompaniment of the song "Gee, Officer Krupke" switches between the home key of the melody and the key a tritone away (e.g., C and F-sharp) and the introduction to the song "One Hand, One Heart" is based on the tritone-half step motive. The tritone appears for the final time near the very end of the piece, where several times a pianissimo C major chord in the high registers of the orchestra is interrupted by a low F-sharp in the bass register. Only in the final bar is the C chord allowed to remain uninterrupted, thus creating a very last-minute release of tension.
Trivia
- The rap band Outkast loosely based the music video for their song "Roses" on West Side Story.
- Jill St. John, Audrey Hepburn, and Suzanne Pleshette were among the many actress who lobbied for the role of Maria in the film adaptation.
- 1960s progressive rock band The Nice recorded a cover version of "America" in the form of an instrumental protest song.
- In Robin Williams stand up show "Live on Broadway" he talks about the fact that before the 9/11 attacks you could take a 4 inch blade onto an airplane. He's seen saying "What, are they afraid you're gonna do a little West Side Story? "Going down the aisle! Crazy aisle!" This was edited out of the US release of the film, however.
- In the Adam Sandler movie, Anger Management, Jack Nicholson and Sandler sing "I Feel Pretty" in several scenes of the movie as an obvious running gag, the most prominent of these being a scene where they pull over on the freeway and Nicholson forces him to sing the song.
- The WWE spoofed the musical in a commercial for the 2005 Royal Rumble. In it we see one gang composed of WWE RAW wrestlers and another of WWE SmackDown wrestlers singing about how they will be the "last one standing" at the Royal Rumble. It then breaks out in a fight between the two gangs before quickly cutting to Vince McMahon waking up, revealing it was a dream. It ends with him saying "That wasn't the Rumble I had in mind!".
External links
- West Side Story plot summary & character descriptions from StageAgent.com
- http://www.westsidestory.com/
- http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/albm28.html
Compositions by Leonard Bernstein | American musicals
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"West Side Story"