In February, a large group of Members, partners and friends enjoyed the musical West Side Story at Woking Theatre, which was jammed packed at every performance – very popular. The scenery really created the impression of the New York apartments and balconies and ingeniously moved with changing lighting and backdrops to create different street scenes and interiors. The choreography and dancing of the Sharks and Jets was excellent. Oh to be young and dance as energetically as the cast did!.
This production gained plaudits for sticking to the original themes of the 1957 Broadway production (libretto by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins, set in New York in the mid-50’s). and resisting an update, such as the gangs being into guns and drug-running. It was great to relive the familiar music, dialogue and songs all over again, wonderful songs but we did have some problems in hearing the Puerto Rican and New Yorker dialogues. Our thanks to Steve Duckworth for organising all the various seats, all with good views.
Alan Boyd