A new generation tackles classic West Side Story
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from February 2002.
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But the dramatic musical can scarcely be described as an historic curiosity: even a cursory scroll of the Internet reveals recent productions of West Side Story in Ontario, New Jersey, Mexico and France. What makes this play transcend time and place?
For CDS director Alan Hall, it's mainly the music. Nearly every song is well known, he noted after rehearsal this week, pointing to classics like "Tonight", "Maria", and "America".
Then there's the plot. That's a classic, too love and the obstacles put in its way by the bigotry that can exist between people of different cultural backgrounds living in the same community.
The play is obviously popular: 70 people turned out for auditions last year. Alan chose about half. After inevitable dropouts, he has a cast of 28, including a dozen teenagers. A lot of people could have done well with certain individual parts, Alan commented, but he was also looking the right blend.
Both he and producer Penny Phillips expressed delight at the number of newcomers involved. Steve Morgan, Simone Barron and Andrea Rivera are making their CDS debut, but after hearing them sing, Alan happily cast them as principals: Simone and Steve as the star-crossed couple, Andrea as confidante.
Alan, whose directorial successes include Camelot and The King and I, has stated categorically he would not have directed this play unless he got the right cast, a live orchestra that could handle some "tricky" music and a choreographer who could stage the dance numbers. He said he felt very fortunate that Stewart Moracen was available, particularly because the show involves a lot of young men who would find it easier to emulate a male dancer. Stewart's versatility as performer is well established and he has worked "tirelessly" for the last six months on this show, Alan said.
Emphasis on dance is not misplaced. West Side Story won two Tony awards in 1958 one for choreography in recognition of the use of dance to advance the story line.
The movie version won four Oscars in 1961 and won West Side Story millions of fans around the world. Cayman audiences will be able to share the show's excitement Thursdays through Saturdays, 7 February 2 March. Seating is limited to 120, so reservations are recommended. Phone 949-5054.
