Wonderful West Side Story

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MUSICAL: WEST SIDE STORY
Reviewed by Danny Gocs
Rating: ****

WEST Side Story has been a theatre favourite since it was first staged on Broadway more than 50 years ago, and the latest version, which premiered at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on August 22, shows that it has not lost any of its sparkle and appeal.

This production combines energetic dancing, brilliant choreography and songs that instantly resonate with the audience, led by America, I Feel Pretty and Maria.

Leading the young cast is 24-year-old Jewish performer Josh Piterman as Tony, the former Jets gang member who is smitten by new migrant Maria (played by Julie Goodwin) in a variation of the classic Romeo and Juliet love tangle.

Piterman has a fine, strong voice and the acting presence required for the key role, while Goodwin also shows her class to display a range of emotions.

Their whirlwind romance is set against turf wars between rival gangs on the streets of New York in the 1950s, conveyed primarily through sharply choreographed dance routines by the impressive young cast.

When Jerome Robbins came up with the original idea for West Side Story, he envisaged it as a love story between a Jewish boy and an Italian-Catholic girl, but once he started collaborating with Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents, he decided that it was more dramatic to focus on the Puerto Ricans moving into New York and the ensuing gang warfare.

The action builds slowly to the fateful showdown between the gangs, with plenty of plot twists. There’s also a nice touch of comedy with deft dance moves as Jets gang members send up the local policeman in Gee, Officer Krupke.

This enjoyable production of West Side Story features a simple yet effective set, plenty of energetic dancing, and strong acting ­performances.

West Side Story is at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne, for a six-week season.