It
takes guts to stage West Side Story, especially with a huge young cast, since
the demands of almost operatic singing and often balletic dancing—let alone acting—are fairly monumental. And then there's just the task of moving almost three dozen people around a stage with limited dimensions.
Big
challenges, however, never faze director Fred Sternfeld, who moves large masses
of people with the decisive precision of Alaric the Visigoth. And Sternfeld is the
major domo of this largely successful production at the TrueNorth Theater in
Sheffield Village.
Yes,
the Jets and Sharks are once again at each others’ throats as the two
star-crossed members of each tribe, Tony and Maria, see each other across a
crowded gymnasium floor and fall into Shakespearian (in this case meaning tragic) love.
Along
with talented choreographer Bebe Weinberg Katz, Sternfeld maxes out the
TrueNorth space, often filling the stage with his entire 30-plus person cast.
And at times, such as during the “Somewhere” dream sequence when everyone is on
stage and in synch, the results are electrifying.
At
other moments, several of the young performers lapse into indicating, their
facial calisthenics undercutting the real emotions surging throughout this classic.
The
two lead roles are a mixed bag themselves. As Maria, Kathleen Ferrini sings
sweetly and has a fresh, honest innocence. Jason Leupold as Tony works hard to
act his songs, and often succeeds, but his emotions at other times feel more
manufactured than genuine.
The
two leaders of the gangs, however, seethe with all the visceral rage you could want.
Ryan Zarecki’s Bernardo is a swaggering swath of testosterone and Joe Pine is a
confident yet at times conflicted Riff. It’s a damn shame they aren’t around to
participate in most of the second act (oh, spoiler alert).
Perhaps
the fullest characterization is handed in by Natalie Green as the fiery Anita,
Maria’s confidant and the person who triggers the bloody denouement. Green’s
singing and dancing skills ignite her scenes, and her duet with Maria (“A Boy
Like That/ I Have a Love)” is—you should pardon the expression—to die for.
As
the tomboy Anybodys, Tess Burgler revs up some dandy gender dysphoria and
actually out-machos some of the Jets she is supposedly trying to emulate.
Due
to technological issues on this night, the head mics had to be turned off
and some of the scenes felt aurally threadbare. And director Sternfeld’s
magical skills at moving people around only failed him once, when cast members
walk on stage to remove some furniture during the tender “One Hand, One Heart”
duet, denting the fragile mood.
But
thanks to the boundless enthusiasm of the cast, this West Side Story scores a
solid rating of 3½ (out of 5) switchblades. And to those who think this show is too old and sappy to be presented again, well, Krup you.
West
Side Story
Through
May 12 at TrueNorth at French Creek, 4530 Colorado Ave. (Rt. 611), Sheffield
Village, 440-949-5200, ext. 221.
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