West Side Story is a tragic love
story based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and
book by Arthur Laurents. Taking place in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New
York City in the 1950’s, this musical gives us two street gangs, the Jets and
the Sharks, whose rivalry focuses around their ethnic backgrounds. When a young
couple falls in love and tries to break down the walls of hatred between the opposing
gangs tragedy strikes multiple times. It
is then that the fists slowly come down as they realize what they’ve become and
what their actions have caused.
Interlakes
Theatre proudly brings this classic to the stage under the direction and
choreography of Brian Feehan. The large cast showed off their dancing chops
during the many dance breaks. The gentlemen appeared to lack confidence in
their steps at times especially during the “Prologue” which made for a shaky
start to the opening night performance. However, things improved when the
ladies kicked the dancing up a notch during “The Dance at the Gym” and “America”.
Nonetheless,
this show was carried by its leads Tony (Justin Luciano), Maria (Julia Suriano),
Bernardo (Taylor Warren) and Anita (Cassidy Stoner). Luciano’s voice and
connection with Suriano were wonderful and the two of them made the audience
wish for a happy ending. Warren was dashingly authoritative as Bernardo and the
dancing between him and Stoner during “The Dance at the Gym” was fierce (in the
best way). Stoner brought strength, sass and of course incredible dancing to
her portrayal of Anita.
As
with most opening nights, this performance had its share of glitches. The most noticeable
issue was the sound, or in some cases, the lack there of: from the mics being turned
“on” backstage before the show to mics dying while leads were singing; to the orchestra being louder than the singers
even when their mics worked properly. It is my hope that it all gets sorted out
and soon, because it was a shame to barely hear half the songs in the show and listening
to the audience around me, many felt the same way.
Thankfully,
the shining light of this production (who I could always hear) is the incomparable
Julia Suriano who, as mentioned earlier, portrays Maria. From the moment she
came on stage she was delightful to watch and when she started singing her well
trained, Soprano voice was chillingly beautiful. Her performance of “I feel
pretty” put a smile on the face of everyone in the audience. The strength and
emotion she brought to “A Boy Like That/ I Have a Love” was perfection. And not
long after that, we watched with tear filled eyes, her devastating heartbreak in
the “Finale” as she reprimanded both gangs for what their hatred had destroyed.
Julia Suriano’s portrayal of Maria is not to be missed as she is hands down one
of the best vocalists Interlakes Theatre has ever had.
West Side Story plays until
July 12th, 2015 at Interlakes Theatre in Meredith, NH. Tickets and
additional information can be found at www.interlakestheatre.com
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