The Sharks and The Jets have taken the stage at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse via the classic musical, West Side Story.
These rival gangs of 50s New York City tell their timeless story of futility against bigotry and the pipe dream of forbidden love in dance and song. Balletic acrobats and music by composer Leonard Bernstein illustrate the tale to full impact.
A classic borne of a classic, West Side Story is inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The Sharks and the Jets battle over undefined turf ownership as did the Capulets and Montagues. Lovers Tony and Maria cross the divide with starry eyes and ill-fated dreams as did Romeo and Juliet.
The Jets are a white gang and the Sharks are Puerto Rican, though both share the vulnerability of being trapped by impoverished birthrights. Their escalating anger moves fast and shocks.
Talented dancers and singers fill the stage with graceful energy to bold finger snapping from start to finish.
Weapons threaten and bodies gyrate in a dangerous dance. Gang war battles are played out with athletic choreography, advancing the narrative by Arthur Laurents.
The Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheims score includes such classic songs as I Feel Pretty and Maria. A multiple Tony Award winner, West Side Story was originally produced on Broadway in 1957.
An audible gasp from the audience was perceptible when Amber Tomlin, as Maria, first broke into song.
Her sweet, soaring soprano and mastery of each note and accented lyric was beautiful to hear. Bringing poignancy to her role as star crossed lover in her Drayton Entertainment debut, Tomlin graced the stage.
It is apparent that she is an experienced musical and operatic performer, having appeared in such classics as Madame Butterfly, Carmen and the Magic Flute.
David Cotton as Tony, her lover at first sight, brought appeal and earnest angst to his role as a Jets member trying to break free.
Cotton is memorable from performances such as Hairspray earlier this season, and Les Misérables for Drayton Entertainment.
His musical numbers with Tomlin, Tonight and One Hand, One Heart inspired empathy.
Louise Camilleri gave a powerful, genuine performance in her role as Anita, girlfriend of the Sharks leader.
Actor Rita Moreno won an Academy Award for the Anita role in the 1961 movie version of West Side Story, which garnered nine other Academy Awards including best picture and best original musical.
Dani Jazzar plays Bernardo with the fierce pride befitting the leader of the Puerto Rican Sharks. Jazzar has appeared in many Drayton Entertainment productions and has previously played the Bernardo role in several other Canadian productions.
Anthony MacPherson as Tony’s best friend Riff exudes nervous energy ready to burst as the leader of the American Jets. He is remembered for Beauty and the Beast among others for Drayton Entertainment.
Larry Mannell as “Doc” plays the role with an anguish the audience feels as he mechanically mans the shop while grappling with fear for his young customers.
Brad Rudy as Detective Shrank and Aaron Walpole as Officer Krupke are demoralized in their efforts to control the gangs, though their antics do offer some sparse comic relief.
With a cast of 22 talented performers, the audience is gripped by the spectacle.
Alex Kelly as Pepe, Krista Leis as Anybodys, Jennifer Thiessen as Graziella and Christine Watson as Consuela are among those that moved the rapt audience.
The six-piece band brought much to the production: trumpet and trombone blaring in alarm; and keys, bass, drums and reed working their dramatic wiles under the direction of Mark Camilleri.
The production is a testament to the skills of director Max Reimer and choreographer Lisa Stevens. Both have a wealth of experience with Drayton Entertainment and well beyond.
The stage was a monotone of browns and grays, capturing the shabby appearance of the back streets on the upper west side. Allowing for a balcony scene and alleyways, a dress making shop and soda shop came and went with ease.
With no glamour and no colour for this neighbourhood the set design by Samantha Burson was right on point.
Costume designer Robert Fletcher did not include chains and leather for the gangs, rather a more realistic unkempt feel. Dresses, while not fancy, did allow a great twirl.
Though the sound was very good, the headgear microphones were noticeable throughout the production.
The finale was sudden and followed by a curtain call for a cast that did not come out of character, perhaps in reverence to all that has not changed.
West Side Story runs until June 2.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.draytonentertainment.com, in person at the St. Jacobs County Playhouse, or by calling the box office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866).
