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West Side Story

Music by Leonard Bernstein: Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim: Book by Arthur Laurents: based on an idea by Jerome Robbins

Winter Garden Theatre, New York - 26 September, 1957 (734 Perfs)
Her Majesty's Theatre, London - 12 December, 1958 (1039 perfs)

STORY

Loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and set in the urban slums of New York, the show used, as its modern equivalents for the Montagues and Capulets the juvenile gangs of local whites (the Jets) and immigrant Puerto Ricans (the Sharks). The did battle with childish seriousness over the streets that they claim as their territory.

The Jets, boastful and contemptuous of the immigrants, call on Tony, who used to be their leader but now has a regular job and is on his way to adulthood, to help their new leader Riff and the gang in a challenge to the Sharks. Riff reminds Tony of his old allegiance and of how menacing are the newcomers. Tony reluctantly agrees reluctantly but soon becomes excited with the thrill of potential combat.

Meanwhile, in a bridal shop Anita, the sweetheart of the Shark's leader, Bernado, is converting Maria's communion dress into a gown for the dance that evening. Maria is Bernardo's sister. He has brought her from Puerto Rico hoping that she will marry his best friend, Chino.

At the dance Riff challenges Bernado and the groups agree to do battle. Tony and Maria have seen each other and fall in love, instantly and become oblivious to the menace that is building up around them.

Most of the Puerto Ricans are nervously elated over the coming conflict but they are confident and determined to assimilate into the American way despite the homesickness that some of them feel.

The threatening groups are dispersed by a policeman but the separation is only temporary. What could have just been a game of muscle flexing turns to tragedy when Bernado provokes a knife-fight which results in Riff being killed. Bernado is murdered in turn by the avenging Tony. He flees to the home of Maria who has been told of the news of her brother's death by Chino. Her love for Tony overcomes her hatred for her brother's killer. Tony promises to take her away and in a dream ballet sequence the battle is re-enacted but this time the lovers are not allowed to meet. The dream turns into a nightmare but Tony and Maria flee.

The gangs meanwhile are concerned with their inevitable encounter with the law and mockingly imagine how they will deal with the situation in the number "Gee, Officer Krupke". Anita taunts Maria for remaining faithful to Tony but nonetheless agrees to deliver Maria's message for Tony to the Jets. Unfortunately the Jets threaten to abuse and rape her that she is driven to claim that Chino has shot and killed Maria. Hearing this, angry and wild with grief Tony goes after Chino, but Chino coolly shoots him just as Tony discovers that Maria is not dead after all. Somewhat ashamed, the Jets and the Sharks between them remove Tony's body as Maria follows them.

Principal Characters:

Maria - A young Puerto Rican
Tony - Her sweetheart
Anita - Bernardo's girl
Riff - Leader of the Jets
Bernado - Leader of the Sharks
Snowboy - A Jet gang member
Big Deal - A Jet gang member
Anybody's - A Jet gang member
Rosalia - A Shark girlfriend
Doc - A Grown-up
Chino - A Shark gang member

 

WEST SIDE STORY was first presented at the Winter Garden, New York City, September 26, 1957, and at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, on December 12, 1958 with the following cast:

THE JETS

RIFF (The Leader) … GEORGE CHAKIRIS
TONY (His Friend) … DoN MCKAY
ACTION … EDDIE ROLL
A-RAB … TONY MORDENTE
BABY JOHN … ED VERSO
SNOWBOY … RIGGS O'HARA
BIG DEAL … DAVID BEAN
DIESEL … GARY COCKRELL
GEE-TAR … MICHEL KLEINMAN
MOUTHPIECE … JOE DONOVAN

THEIR GIRLS

GRAZIELLA … LESLIE FRANZOS
VELMA … SUSAN WATSON
MINNIE … INGE ROLL
CLARICE … MAUREEN GILLICK
ANYBODY'S … SYLVIA TYSICK

THE SHARKS

BERNARDO (The Leader) … KEN LE ROY
MARIA (His Sister) … MARLYS WATTERS
ANITA (His Girl) … CHITA RIVERA
CHINO (His Friend) … BEN GERARD
PEPE … MARC SCOTT
INDIO … BUD FLEMING
LUIS … DON PERCASSI
ANXIOUS … LEO KHARIBIAN
NIBBLES … KEITH STEWART
JUANO … BILLY WILSON

THEIR GIRLS

ROSALIA … FRANCESCA BELL
TERESITA … YVONNE OTHON
FRANCISCA … GLORIA HIGDON
ESTELLA … ROBERTA KEITH
MARGUERITA … LINA SORIANO

THE ADULTS

DOC … DAVID BAUER
SCHRANK … TED GUNTHER
KRUPKE … HAL GAUL!
GLAD HAND … DAVID HOLLIDAY

Musical Numbers

ACT I

1. PROLOGUE (Instrumental)
2. JET SONG (Riff and Jets)
   2A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental)
3. SOMETHING'S COMING (Tony)
   3A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental)
4. THE DANCE AT THE GYM (Instrumental)
   4. BLUES
   4A. PROMENADE
   4B. MAMBO
   4C. CHA-CHA
   4D. MEETING SCENE
   4E. JUMP
5. MARIA (Tony)
6. BALCONY SCENE (Maria and Tony)
7. AMERICA (Anita, Rosalia and Girls)
   7A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental)
8. COOL (Riff and Jets)
   8A. CONTINUATION OF SCENE (Instrumental)
   8B. UNDER DIALOGUE AND CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental)
9. UNDER DIALOGUE (Instrumental)
   9A. ONE HAND, ONE HEART (Tony and Maria)
10. TONIGHT (Maria, Tony, Anita, Riff, Bernardo)
11. THE RUMBLE (Instrumental)
    

ACT II

12. I FEEL PRETTY (Maria and the Girls)
13. UNDER DIALOGUE (Instrumental)
    13A. BALLET SEQUENCE (Instrumental, Tony, Maria and a Girl) .
    13B. TRANSITION TO SCHERZO
    13C. SCHERZO
    13D. SOMEWHERE
    13E. PROCESSION AND NIGHTMARE
14. GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE (Jets)
    14A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental)
15. A BOY LIKE THAT (Maria and Anita)
    I HAVE A LOVE (Maria and Anita)
    15A. CHANGE OF SCENE (Instrumental)
16. TAUNTING SCENE (Instrumental)
17. FINALE (Maria and Tony)

Instrumentation:

Large Orchestra:

Reed I - (piccolo/flute/clarinet/bass clarinet/alto sax)
Reed II - (clarinet/Eb clarinet/bass clarinet)
Reed III - (piccolo/flute/oboe/cor anglais/clarinet/bass clarinet/tenor sax/baritone sax)
Reed IV - (piccolo/flute/clarinet/bass clarinet/ soprano sax/bass sax)
Reed V - (bassoon)
2 horns; 3 trumpets; 2 trombones; 2 percussion; piano db celeste; guitar; 7 violins; 4 cellos; double bass

Modified Orchestrations

Reed I - (piccolo [opt]/flute [opt]/clarinet/alto sax)
Reed II - (clarinet/tenor sax)
Reed III - (clarinet/bass clarinet/baritone sax)
3 trumpets; 2 trombones; 2 percussion; piano db celeste; guitar; 7 violins; 4 cellos; double bass

Synopsis of Scenes

The action takes place on the West Side of New York City during the last days of summer.

ACT I

1. Prologue: - The months before
2. 5:00 P.M - The Street
3. 5:30 P.M - A Back Yard
4. 6:00 P.M - A Bridal Shop
5. 10:00 P.M -The Gym
6. 11:00 P.M - A Back Alley
7. MIDNIGHT - The Drugstore
8. The Next Day
9. 5:30 P.M - The Bridal Shop
10. 6.00 to 9:00 P.M - The Neighbourhood
11. 9:00 P.M - Under the Highway

ACT II

1. 9:15 P.M - A Bedroom
2. 10:00 P.M - Another Alley
3. 11:30 P.M - The Bedroom
4. 11:40 P.M - The Drugstore
5. 11:50 P.M - The Cellar
6. MIDNIGHT - The Street

Videography:

Film available on video - To buy click here.