West Side Story, Sadler’s Wells - theatre review

When the cast starts dancing you remember why West Side Story is so beloved, says William Moore
Steve Ross/Capital Pictures
William Moore28 September 2013

Now that men’s fashion has regained a preference for tight T-shirts and all- too-revealing trousers, there may not be a better time for West Side Story to return to the capital, although the look is now more “London hipster” than “Manhattan street gang”.

With music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents, the musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet amidst New York rival gangs, Jets and Sharks, began its 50th anniversary tour in 2008, now bringing the show back to Sadler’s Wells.

West Side Story is a victim of its own success, seared into the public’s pop culture awareness for all eternity by the Oscar-scooping 1961 film. What would have towered as a bold piece of theatre 50 years ago has settled into cosy nostalgia. If only we lived in a time where gangs wore bright garish colours and said “beat it” instead of “go f*** yourself.” They don’t do hoodlums like that anymore.

But this worry fades into insignificance when the cast starts dancing and you remember why West Side Story is so beloved. Director Joey McKneely reproduces Jerome Robbins’s original ground-breaking choreography with exhilarating drive. As the Jets and Sharks hurl themselves at each other with hot fury but balletic form, your heart is in your mouth.

But the high-calibre dancing masks minor problems elsewhere. Donald Chan’s orchestra, though marvellously rousing, occasionally overpowers the actors’ voices. The high-energy rendition of “America”, while all the skirt-flapping fun you expect, was particularly tricky to hear.

Liam Tobin and Elena Sancho Pereg are splendid as star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria, while Penelope Armstead-Williams is likeably spirited as Anita, making her Act Two ordeal a real punch to the gut.

Until September 22 (0844 412 4300, sadlerswells.com)

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