Review: West Side Story Is A Modern Day Romeo and Juliet Musical Extravaganza

PUBLISHED September 18th, 2017 09:18 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 02:58 pm

For classical music lovers, Leonard Berstein’s score for West Side Story is always unadulterated aural pleasure. His signature theatrical jazz and pop style, combined with stirring lyrics by Stephen Stephen Sondheim are one of the backbones that make up this hit musical. Then there is Jerome Robbins’ pulse-racing choreography – blink and you’ll miss it. It’s no wonder West Side Story has been described as the greatest dance musical of all time.

In Singapore, the iconic show will run until 30 September 2017, and sees a young all-American cast as members of the two warring gangs – the Caucasian Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Set in 1950s New York, two young lovers, Tony (Marc Koeck) and Maria (Natalie Ballenger) are caught in the crossfire while trying to elope, and well, if you know Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, then you know how things go down.

Turning 60 years old this year, the theme of West Side Story is a timeless one. As our parents relished the same narrative decades back, it now strikes a chord in a younger audience. There is the classic young romance we all can relate to, and then there are the issues of racism, immigration, issues that remain the news of the day with the Trump regime and white supremacist groups clamouring for anti-immigrant policies.

And that’s what it is – the American dream in its full glory and ugliness, muddled by love, hate, tolerance, and discrimination. Koeck, whose recent credits include South Pacific and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, plays the starry-eyed Tony, the young Jets gangster that we come to invest ourselves in through the show. His soaring tenor voice dazzles through the iconic “Maria” as we are introduced to the woman of his life. But not before the exciting “Dance at the Gym”, a spankin’ good big band track that sees the two rivaling gangs decking it out in a furious Mambo dance-off. What amazes is the fact that the cast members are not just stellar singers and actors, but also impressive dancers, holding their own they fling themselves across the stage.

The dance comes at the egging of the po-po, namely Lieutenant Schrank (Michael Scott) and his bumbling subordinate Officer Krupke (Kenn Christopher), two racist individuals with a clear prejudice against the minority Puerto Ricans. The fleet-footed visual spectacle serves its purpose, bringing Tony to meet the sweet Maria (and sister of Sharks leader Bernardo) performed by the brilliant soprano Ballenger. Her vibrato is splendid, blending with her co-star like butter. She is instantly likeable, and the unlikely pair intriguingly believable in their first duet in “Tonight”.

We see a gorgeous dream sequence in the second act’s “Somewhere“, where the cast changes into all white in a surreal ballet scene with breathtaking choreography, spreading their arms like birds in flight. It is a brief episode of detachment and idyllic optimism, observing what things could be in a peaceful America.

But West Side Story has never been a superficial sappy romance, unflinchingly tackling problems like gang violence and rape culture as seen in the killing of the gang leaders and the rape of Anita (Keely Beirne) by the white boys of the Jets. The production is further aided by spot-on music performed by musical director Donald Chan – he’s conducted over 3000 performances of West Side Story – and his live orchestra, which you feel right in your seat. And let’s not forget Paul Gallis’ fabulous set of grungy metal balconies, fire escapes, and monochrome projections that make up the grimy New York back alleys.

With its approachable concoction of love, tragedy, take on societal issues, as well as award-winning score and spectacular original choreography, this award-winning Broadway production is one you don’t want to miss. But you already knew that, didn’t you?

West Side Story is running from 13 to 30 September 2017 at Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. Tickets are priced from $55 to $185, available via SISTIC. For more details about the show, click here.