‘West Side Story’ brings romance, dramatic flair to the Fox Theatre

The highlight of Valentine’s Day was the opening of “West Side Story” at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.  What better way to show affection for the one you love than with tickets to one of the most romantic shows to ever grace the stage?

Based on the book by Arthur Laurents, “West Side Story” first graced the stage in 1957, and has since been performed countless times around the world. The musical follows two New York City street gangs: one consisting of poverty-stricken Caucasians (the Jets,) and the other, newly-immigrated Puerto Ricans struggling to achieve the American dream (the Sharks.) Both gangs fight for territory and respect in a seemingly endless cycle of violence and destruction.

Tony, the former Jet leader (played by Ross Lekites) is consumed by the feeling that something is coming— something that will change the course of his life forever. Breaking away from the Jets, he decides to pursue this feeling. Tony’s best friend Riff (Drew Foster,) current leader of the Jets, pressures Tony to re-connect with the gang, because they need his help to fight against the Sharks.

At a local gymnasium, the gangs collide in fervor of tension and dance. Through all the noise and color, the world stops when Tony sees Maria (Evy Ortiz,) younger sister of the Sharks’ leader. Maria is an innocent girl, experiencing America for the first time. The two instantly fall in love, but struggle to let their love grow in a cold and indifferent city that will not accept their relationship.

“West Side Story” is a classic, and therefore takes a great deal of vocal power and control to perform accurately. The new Broadway cast tackled Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics at full force, and performed the music as only professionals could. The pit, which included some St. Louis locals, was fantastic and deserves as much praise as the vocal performers.

The most awe-inspiring aspect of the show, as always, was the choreography. Watching dancers perform the original 1950 choreography of Jerome Robbins is always impressive. Praise is in order for characters such as Anita (Michelle Avavena) and Foster, who showed great stamina throughout their performances. The cast was able to perform the choreography with incredible accuracy, going back and forth between dancing and singing without skipping a beat.

The addition of Spanish into the original script— and even into some of the lyrics, for the Puerto Rican characters— adds a fresh authenticity to the musical. One downside to this addition, however, was that the incorporation of Spanish into trademark songs such as “I Feel Pretty,” “Tonight” and “A Boy like That” made it hard to sing along, and caused a few mumbles in the audience.

Technical aspects of the show were very professional, and very detailed. The hemlines and color schemes of the costumes and hairstyles reflected a more modern look than in previous performances. The set was made with clean and simple lines, giving the city a cold and industrial feel.

“West Side Story” is a complex and dynamic story that registers different emotions and life lessons in every audience member. The musical is able to appeal to those who love action, drama, dance, music and overall fantastic artistic expression, as well as those who love romance. “West Side Story” examines interracial and cultural relationships, racism, poverty, the American Dream, violence, corrupt law enforcement, brotherhood and the evils of revenge, and so much more.

Anyone who sees the show will leave with something they can relate to, and that can be related to others. It is much more than an adaptation of the well-known love story of “Romeo and Juliet.” It is life on stage, performed in front of your eyes. Living, breathing life.

If you missed last week’s performances, do not fret— the New Broadway cast will be at the Fox through Feb. 26. It is rare to see a show with such high caliber, so get your tickets soon and don’t miss the chance to experience “West Side Story” for yourself.