WEST SIDE STORY: 50th Anniversary production - touring
WEST SIDE STORY
50th Anniversary Production
Touring
Birmingham Hippodrome till 2nd May
Reviewed at Birmingham Hippodrome, Alexander Wray 24 April 2009
A marvellous revival.
The best thing about seeing this large-scale production is to see this important work as it was originally conceived – choreography, music, lyrics and book re-established as equal partners. The energy and accuracy of the whole company are the team that makes this production such a success. (And it’s worth remembering, that it was choreographer and dancer Jerome Robbins who was the moving force behind this seminal work.)
The show’s been out some time, but it still looks fabulous. The choreography is reproduced by Joey McKneely. While it feels fresh, it’s a treat to see Robbins’s witty and characterful work coming through so strongly.
Two of the highlights are ensemble numbers; AMERICA from Anita, Rosalia and the Shark Girls, and GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE from the Jets. Both real show-stoppers.
Daniel Koek creates Tony; what a voice! His first song, SOMETHING’S COMING is fragile, a sense of adolescent longing underpinning it; he moves into full power with his next, MARIA. Both these had people around me gasping with pleasure (and rightly so.)
Maria is created by Sofia Escobar. She looks very young but has a powerful voice that perfectly weaves with Koek’s. Her acting lets her down, though, she fails to really inhabit her character and signals emotions rather than feeling them and letting us share them. It’s a pale performance against the vigour and delight of Jayde Westaby’s Anita.
Nevertheless, a great, a thrilling, revival.
Tony: Daniel Koek.
Maria: Sofia Escobar.
Anita: Jayde Westaby.
Bernado: Dan Burton.
Riff: Howard Jones.
Doc: Michael Bell.Lieutenant Schrank: Ged Simmons.
Officer Krupuke / Gladhand: Martin Chamberlain.
Jets: Action: Brendan Cull, Baby John: Harry Francis, A-Rab: Jay Webb, Big Deal: Tom Muggeridge, Snow Boy: Cris Penfold, Diesel: Edd Post, Gee-tar / Dance Captain Simon Karaiskos, Anybodys: Anna Stevens, Graziella: Sophie Jade Gilbert, Velma: Grace Hoy, Pauline : Lia Given, Minnie: Rachel Diprose.
Sharks: Chino: Aki Omoshaybi, Pepe: Nathan Daniel, Anxious: Chris Trenfield, Nibbles: Shaun Paul Smith, Indio: Christos Maos, Moose: Jonathan Sephton, Consuela: Kharis George, Rosalia / Somewhere Girl: Hazel Gardner, Estella, May Yen Cheah, Francisca: Laurel Dalley Smith
Original Production Directed and Choreographed by: Jerome Robbins.
Director: Joey McKneely.
Choreography reproduced by: Joey McKneely.
Musical Supervisor: Donald Chan.
Set Design: Paul Gallis.
Lighting Design: Peter Halbsgut.
Costume Design: Renate Schmitzer.
Sound Design: Rick Clarke.
Make Up Design: Hannelore Uhrmacher.
Musical Director: Simon Beck.
2009-04-24 12:24:40