During
the last week of September, 1957, I sat emotionally drained in the
Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway, in New York City, after seeing "West
Side Story" for the first time. Since then I have seen over 50 stage
productions and watched the movie innumerable times. Now, 53 and a half
years later, I was sitting in the Broward Performing Arts Center in Fort
Lauderdale, waiting to hear that striking overture, with apprehension,
for the revival to start.

Arthur
Laurents, who wrote the original book based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and
Juliet", decided to direct a new revival making changes he felt were
more realistc. One such change was having Lin-Manuel Miranda translate
some of the lyrics, and dialogue, using Spanish such as when Maria sings
"I Feel Pretty", among her co-wokers, where it would be natural for
them to speak/sing in their native language rather than in English.    

With
music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the
choreography based on the original by Jerome Robbins  this revival
contains the original elements that made "West Side Story" a turning
point in the history of the musical theatre.

I
wasn't aware of many changes that Mr. Laurents made but I feel one
added nothing to the show and, in fact, distracted from a  couple of
major scenes such as the dialogue between the Sharks in the dance at the
gym and a couple of the songs, not to mention working against one of
the players. Interjecting Spanish took the audience away from what was
happening on stage. Even those familiar with the words to the songs,
such as the aforementioned "I Feel Pretty", sat there trying to
translate the words back into English and those who don't know Spanish
are completely lost during the "A Boy Like That"/"I Have A Love" duet.

In
most productions of "West Side Story" Anita is the focus of every scene
she is in but here the interjection of Spanish defeats the performer as
the audience doesn't get many of her saucy lines from "America" and
though she sings and acts up a storm and you know what she is feeling in
"A Boy Like That" you lose the force of the words. Michelle Aravena,
playing Anita is a good dancer, singer and actress who is defeated by
Mr. Laurents changes as is the opening of the second act.

Kyle
Harris as Tony and Ali Ewoldt as Maria really impress with their
soaring voices keeping the two lovers in the forefront as they should
be. The cast dances the heck out of the Jerome Robbins choreography
reproduced by Joey McKneely and the touring company, under the direction
of David Saint, puts the Jets and the Sharks with Riff (Josepf J.
Simeone), Bernardo (German Santiago), Baby John (Grant Gustin), Chino
(Jay Garcia) and their girlfriends along with the role of Anybodys
(Alexandra Frohlinger) through their paces.

The
19 piece orchestra, under the direction of John O'Neill, made up mostly
of local musicians,  shows the Bernstein score the respect and power it
needs, with a few exceptions, to make this revival a must see.

One
major change that Arthur Laurents made, which is most effective, and
more realistic than the original, is the ending touching the audience.

Running time: 1st act 1 hour and 25 minutes  Intermission 20 minutes  2nd act 45 minutes   total 2 hours and 30 minutes

Gun shots and 3 annoying cell phones ringing during performance.

The
Broadway Across America "West Side Story" tour continues on to Tampa,
West Palm Beach, New Orleans and San Antonio--for rest of schedule go to
www.broadwayacrossamerica.com

The
rest of the 2010-2011 Broadway Across America schedule at the Broward
Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale is as follows: "Wicked" March
30-April 24, "Hair" June 7-19, "Mamma Mia" July 16-25 plus "Spring
Awakening" at The Parker Playhouse.