West Side Story

Arguably there is no greater musical score available to amateur groups than Bernstein’s West Side Story and it takes a special ‘company’ to do justice to this classic script. Step up Crash Bang Wallop youth theatre.
The nineteen strong orchestra drew out every nuance of every note of the score whilst taking care not to overpower the performers. Choreography is expected to be exemplary with this show and Emma’s dancers and ensemble didn’t disappoint both in dance numbers such as ‘America’ as well as choreographed movement such as the fight scenes. Dan’s direction worked well and didn’t look cluttered despite the numbers performing in a limited playing area confined by the well-constructed and versatile set.

 ‘Riff’ (Morgan Burgess) and ‘Bernardo’ (Jason Curia) ‘bounced off each other’ theatrically and you could sense the tension in the scenes between themselves whilst Jonny Friesem as ‘Action’ played the ‘coiled spring ready to explode teenager’ with consummate expertise. Lt Shrank cast and played as a female by Helen Drumm was a great blend of ‘cynical authority with a touch of racism’ police officer as she won no friends on either side of the Jets/Sharks divide.
Two smaller/cameo roles of note were those of Annabella Burgess as the tomboy female trying to integrate into the Jets’ gang – Annabella made a small character part her ‘own’. The second minor role of note was Phoebe McArthur as the soloist in the ‘Somewhere’ number. Her voice was haunting (in a good way) making the hairs on the back of your neck rise.

Ruby Hoggarth was excellent in the role of ‘Anita’ the PR immigrant and girlfriend of Bernardo whilst Hannah Mitchell as ‘Maria’ played the transition between naïve young girl and angry, in-despair, grieving lover with class. The two girls’ duet “A Boy like That/I Have a Love” was for me the show stopper number and played with such emotion.
Luc Van Der Voet as ‘Tony’ gave a superb performance throughout - my particular favourite number between him and Hannah was “One Hand, One Heart”.

With 24 named principals space precluded mentioning everyone but each played their part towards creating a theatrical event that will live many years in the memories of those that witnessed it.
Youth Theatre at its best.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.