West Side Story – Bord Gais Energy Theatre – Review
by Brian Merriman

WEST SIDE STORY – Produced by BB Promotion – 12 – 24 June 2023

Duration 150 minutes with interval

‘West Side Story’ is being hurled off the stage in Martin Flohr’s new production at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. This pulsating production is stylishly directed by Lonny Price. Price gives us an authentic interpretation, true to the original and yet full of appropriate and expansionary new interpretation, blessed by a production team of Julio Monge, Choreographer, Grant Sturiale, keeper of the Bernstein flame in the glorious score, evocative sets by Anna Louizos, a wonderful colour palate of costumes by Alejo Vietti and superb casting by the Casting Collective et al.

The show opens with the impressive physical presence of the Jets, strongly led by Taylor Harley’s earthy ‘Riff’. They belt out the Jet song in as strong an opening sequence (choreographed by Monge) as I have ever seen for this musical. We start on a high. We remain on a high.

The show is superbly cast. The 19-piece (by licence) orchestra under Sturiale’s flawless direction, delivers the luscious score with beauty and vigour. Bernstein’s masterful dance score has you hearing the passion and energy of the dancers, even when only instruments are playing. And the cast really does dance and dance. Bernardo (Anthony Sanchez) is a superb presence with a strong line and exact delivery. Anita (Kyra Sorce) sings, dances and acts throughout with the quality edge that the iconic role demands.

The ensembles of Jets and Sharks light up the stage full of passionate excellence, that it makes you want to be young again and that gifted!

‘West Side Story’ took a very long time to come to fruition. Originally set between rival gangs of Irish and Jews, happily, they changed course in this Romeo and Juliet tale and delivered a contemporary plot, that set the ball rolling for musicals with realism at their core.

It also pushed boundaries. The character ‘Anybodys’ well played by Laura Leo Kelly is that tomboy (with a non-binary name) original. Many more issues of race, poverty, migration and societal breakdown, the assault on Anita, are unlikely topics when even the great followed the traditional musical theatre formula of ‘boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again…’. The casting of the adults (all well played) as onlookers as things spiral out of control are all innovations that stand the test of time and paved the way for more dramatic musical plays that have sustained the art form for current generations.

There are flashes of the film in the setting and the original choreography. The setting of the ‘Officer Krupke’ number manoeuvres itself deftly from the traditional exaggeration of difference, skillfully repurposing it suitably in this production. The Dance at the gym is stunning. The ‘Somewhere’ sequence is new and captures the intent of the song with a dream ballet sequence, once again referring back to the origins of musical theatre at the time it was first presented.

With all the glorious ensemble pieces what of the romantic leads? How can they make their mark with such artistry surrounding them on stage, with far more scope to bowl over the audience physically and vocally? Quite simply, cast Jadon Webster as ‘Tony’. He is well built, moves with such ease and is vocally effortless, even after running through the moving set. His broad smile, innocence, fine physicality and vocal ease ensure he captures this part with impact and honour.

The real surprise of the evening was Melanie Sierra’s ‘Maria’. Often cast for vocals only, as it is such a demanding part to sing, Melanie brought a new and fresh edge to this role, that made her a driving force in the plot throughout. She played it, not as Barnardo’s naïve sister, but as Barnardo’s ‘chip off the block’ sister. Such energy, comedy and passion on a scale that reminds us, it is her decisions that drive the plot to its tragic end. All her actions made sense in this powerful interpretation, giving Price’s direction a unique quality and allowing ‘Maria’ to re-emerge as a young woman, that modern audiences would connect with.

For any young theatre professional to play in ‘West Side Story’ is a testimony of their all round skillset for musical theatre. For any young professional to be cast in and to deliver the many challenges of this new production, is something they should be very proud of. You need to be at the top of your game to be in this show. For any audience to see this cast and production, is a real privilege. Go see it.

Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Arthur Laurents
Original Production directed by Jerome Robbins
Executive Producer: Martin Flohr
Directed by Lonny Price.
Choreographer: Julio Monge,
Music: Grant Sturiale
Sets by Anna Louizos
Costumes by Alejo Vietti
Casting by the Casting Collective et al.