BWW Reviews: WEST SIDE STORY Gets a Reboot at the Ziegfeld Theater

If your favorite musical ever had a favorite musical it would always inarguably be WEST SIDE STORY! With the book written by Arthur Laurents, original music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by the masterful Stephen Sondheim, and the entire original production directed and choreographed by the incomparable Jerome Robbins, I don't even have to tell you how meteoric and magical this musical was and still is.

The Ziegfeld Theater "The Zig", celebrating its 3rd season, did a wonderful retelling of the classic. Director, Morgan Parry gave the show fresh, new eyes. Talese Hunt, at the helm as choreographer, made sure the lines and lyrics were painted meticulously across the stage through glorious movement. Notables like: "Mambo", "America", and "Cool" were taken to new heights by Hunt. If there were any novice dancers in the show, they were hidden gracefully. Wardrobe was fanciful and well-constructed - hats off to Michael Nielsen. Color choices and style aesthetic were genuine and respectable.

WEST SIDE STORY is most famously linked to being a modern-day Romeo & Juliet, but it's so much more than that. It's got heart, it's got guts, and it's got grit. Of course, the bottom-line is the same, the story concept is thematically identical, but it's all the nuts and bolts in between that make this well-oiled machine function.

As soon as the lights rose on the set and the "Prologue" began to unfold, I knew that "The Zig" had a true gem on their hands. The set was carefully crafted and the pieces flew in and out like a true broadway set. The choreography was captivating from start to finish. Hunt's approach to the music through dance was riveting and crowd-pleasing. It made such heavy dialogue easier to stomach. The stigma that musicals have about bursting into song and dance at the most inopportune times seem to bypass this show. All of the songs moved the story along as they should and it never felt erratic or random.

I must definitely highlight the athleticism and strength of the cast. They really worked those ladders and scaffoldings for all they're worth - at times it felt as if they flew through space. I found myself grimacing when they'd jump from heights above ground, but no major casualties occurred, or at least not noticeable ones. Though many of the fight scenes felt inauthentic and clumsy, Parry's eye for flare and drama resonated with the clever staging and smart transition choices. Top notch!

There were quite a few stage standouts, including: Jaime Fuentes (Bernardo) & Ashley Carlson (Anita). Their steamy onstage chemistry leapt of the stage. Carlson's Anita rivaled that of the great Rita Moreno (who played Anita in the 1961 film), and Fuentes commanded attention as Bernado - leader of the Sharks. Olivia Lusk (Rosalia) was vapid and spacey - in a good way! This really propelled "America" as one of the highlights of the show. Bonnie Beus Romney (Anybodys) was tough and brassy; yet fragile - one of my favorite characters. Brittany Shamy (Maria) and Tyler Brignone (Tony) were made for each other. Their portrayal of the lead characters was honest and pure; not overdone. I could listen to Shamy sing all day!

I was let down by John Peterson (Riff). As proclaimed gangleader of the Jets, Peterson felt prepubescent and safe; I wanted more edge! David Boice (Lt. Schrank), much like Peterson, felt very rehearsed, yet the sincerity of the character waned. "Gee, Officer Krupke" had a few hiccups to start, but Joshua Samuel Robinson (Action) and Bryan Andrews (Baby John) saved that number. Becky Cole (Conseula) was energetic and saucy, but seemed to be a little too progressive for the times, even more so than she was originally written to be.

Kudos to Rick Rea (Musical Director). The vocals were solid and the few challenges with musical timing didn't deflect from the production value. It was wise to go with a track show; live accompaniment could've proven catastrophic. WEST SIDE STORY is such a musically-demanding show.

Whether you're a musical buff or a newbie to the theatre scene - WEST SIDE STORY captivates the masses and the Ziegfeld Theater delivers the goods! For more information on tickets, go to: www.ziegfeldtheater.com. WEST SIDE STORY runs through June 27.

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