Superb chemistry between the male and female leads is a highlight of The Production Company’s 50th musical, which remains as poignant today as when it first appeared. The story, set in the mid 1950s in New York City’s Upper West Side, explores the rivalry between gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The Sharks are Puerto Rican, while the Jets are a working-class group of Anglo Saxons. The young protagonist, Tony, one of the Jets, falls deeply in love with Maria (the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks). But the tension between the gangs, both wanting to stake out what they see as their territory, puts immediate pressure on the blossoming relationship, which has little hope of prospering. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre when the original Broadway production was first staged in 1957.
Melbourne-born, London-based Anna O’Byrne (a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts) has a superb, sweet voice and strong stage presence as Maria. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts graduate Gareth Keegan, who was prominent in Show Boat and The Pirates of Penzance for The Production Company, displays superlative range and depth as Tony. They are ably supported by the other 32 members of the cast and a rich, 30-piece orchestra, led by musical director Guy Simpson. For the second female lead in Deone Zanotto (who fills the role of Anita, Bernardo’s girlfriend) is was an opening night with a difference. She came down with laryngitis, but soldiered on without opening her mouth. Instead Amanda Harrison was called in at the 11th hour to fill the breach (from off stage), while another actor, Natalie Gilhome, delivered Anita’s spoken lines. Adam Fiorentino and Sean Mulligan play the ill-fate gang leaders.
As is The Production Company’s want, staging is minimalist but spot on, with metal fencing on either side of the stage a permanent fixture in this production. It provides an escape route for gang members and an area behind which Orchestra Victoria is positioned. The set has been designed by Shaun Gurton, while the show is choreographed by Michael Ralph. Gail Edwards, who recently directed Opera Australia’s superb production of Aida on Sydney Harbour, is back to helm her fourth show for The Production Company, and like everything she touches, does so with distinction.
Featuring music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, choreography by Jerome Robbins and based upon a book by Arthur Laurents, West Side Story remains a theatrical triumph. Numbers like Maria, Tonight and America in Act One and I Feel Pretty and Somewhere in Act Two remain timeless crowd pleasers.
It was Robbins idea to modernise the tragic conflicts in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. His friend, actor Montgomery Clift had asked Robbins for help in interpreting the role of Romeo to make it “fresh”. He phoned composer, conductor and pianist Leonard Bernstein, with whom he had worked successfully before. They worked on West Side Story for eight years and along the way Laurents and Sondheim joined the creative team. Their production spawned an innovative, award-winning 1961 musical of the same name, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. It starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn and claimed 10 Academy Awards.
The Production Company’s stage version is a colourful, engaging, energetic and moving show from start to finish. Two-and-a-half hours including interval, West Side Story is playing at the State Theatre at the Victorian Arts Centre until 19th July. How appropriate that The Production Company’s 50th outing is such a musical classic.
Alex First
David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb and a contributor on film and television