“West Side Story” will be a Night to Remember at The Muny

by Pat Lindsey

“West Side Story” is the musical of all American musicals. It has one of the most superb scores ever written, dynamic balletic choreography, heart-stopping drama, and passionate love. It is a story for our time, just as it was when it was first seen in 1961 when it won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
This week marks the 60th anniversary of “West Side Story” since gracing The Muny stage for the very first time. The script has remained timeless, because street gangs and guns, prejudice against various ethnic groups, and police frustration and intervention are still societal issues. Nevertheless, I was relieved to see this Muny production presented without deviation from the original version. It was like seeing an old friend with renewed interest.
Emotions run high in this show and they are powerfully, yet gracefully, expressed through the Jerome Robbins choreography. The dancing is breathtaking. Each intricate number is performed with precision. During the dance at the gym, the teenage couples mambo with a vengeance. And while the Puerto Ricans and Americans are dancing out their hatred for one another, Tony and Maria experience love at first sight.
Christian Douglas is a perfect Tony. His beautiful voice is filled with tenderness when he sings, “Maria” and “One Hand, One Heart.” Maria, played by Kanisha Feliciano, has a gorgeous soprano voice that complements Tony’s in “One Hand, One Heart” and “Tonight.” Together, the two can send tingles up and down one’s spine. The strongest character in “West Side Story” is the fiery Anita (Jerusa Cavazos), who explodes on the stage in song, dance, and dialogue. She is the story’s catalyst and reveals her most emotional self when singing, “A Boy Like That/I Have a Love.”

Other outstanding actors are Kyle Coffman as Riff, Yurel Echezarreta as Bernardo, and Michael James Reed as Lt. Schrank. Special recognition goes to Ken Page, who plays Doc in his 44th Muny role.
The most stirring song is “Tonight,” in which Riff, Bernardo, Anita, Tony, and Maria sing in five-part harmony, supported by a chorus of Jets and Sharks. And when Tony sings “Maria,” it’s “the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.” Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim would be so proud to hear their music performed by The Muny Orchestra and sung by such a talented cast.
“West Side Story” is loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” After Tony and Maria fall in love, Maria pleads with Tony to stop the fight between her brother’s gang and Tony’s gang. Tony promises to do that, but soon hears that Chino (Cedric Leiba Jr) has killed Maria out of jealousy. Tony then throws caution to the wind and runs through the streets of New York begging Chino to shoot him, too. Soon, Maria and Tony see each other and Tony realizes that Maria is not dead, but it’s too late. The American tragedy reaches a screeching climax and concludes with an unhappy ending as Tony’s body is carried off the stage.
The Muny’s “West Side Story” deserves to be seen and appreciated for every wonderful element it contains and for every emotion it will arouse. The Jets and the Sharks will be rumbling nightly on The Muny stage at 8:15 p.m. now through July 21. For tickets, go to muny.org or call the box office at 314-534-1111.

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