WEST SIDE STORY (2019 Revival) Preview Thread- Page 32

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 2/14/20 at 8:10pm

Saw the show last night for a second time. It’s stronger than the first time. The audience thou not so much. Basically sitting next to a lady (second row) who couldn’t see the scenes set with the video screen. She decided to fold up her seat and sit on it. The couple behind her politely asked her to please sit in her seat, and she literally turned around and said, “ FU and don’t tell me what to do”. This was during the dance at the gym, thank god.

Issac is fabulous don’t miss him in this. No understudies last night. As mention Amar got tons of boos during curtain call

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 2/15/20 at 9:15pm

Well my mom decided she wants to see it so we're seeing it this Wednesday evening. I guess this will be the momsical of the year. I hope she's not too scared by anything onstage, but to be safe I got rear mezzanine tickets. 

[A Director]

Posted: 2/15/20 at 11:18pm

WldKingdomHM said:
Issac is fabulous don’t miss him in this. No understudies last night. As mention Amar got tons of boos during curtain call"

First there were protests outside the theatre. Now there are boos in the theatre. What next? I doubt if he exits via the Stage Door.

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 12:09am

Do they offer exchanges if the leads aren’t on?

[KingOfTheMine]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 12:33am

Finally saw this tonight, and everyone was on.  I'm in the camp that loved this.  I found the production thrilling, and the video projection is much better used here than it was in Network.  Isaac Powell was as good as people have been saying.  I was also really moved by Shereen Pimentel's portrayal of Maria.  The audience seemed to be loving the show, and was very responsive.  I saw several critics in attendance.  Interested to see how the reviews are for this one.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 12:34am

TotallyEffed said: "Do they offer exchanges if the leads aren’t on?"

I believe unless they’re listed above the title that they’re not obligated to offer exchanges but you can always try. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 12:35am

KingOfTheMine said: "Finally saw this tonight, and everyone was on. I'm in the camp that loved this. I found the production thrilling, andthe video projection is much betterused here than it was in Network. Isaac Powell was as goodas people have been saying. I was also really moved by Shereen Pimentel's portrayal of Maria. The audience seemed to be loving the show, and was very responsive. I saw several critics in attendance. Interested to see how the reviews are for this one."

I had understudies for Tony and Maria last time and I’m seeing it next Friday the day after opening so I’m really excited. Because I loved it then.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 1:00am

TotallyEffed said: "Do they offer exchanges if the leads aren’t on?"

Are you able to go tomorrow, Tuesday, or Wednesday? Since this is press week, everyone should be on for every performance between now and Thursday. Also, you can keep an eye on Telecharge in case they release any rear mezzanine seats for opening night.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 8:27am

I’m going Wednesday night and I picked that night in the hopes that everyone will be on. Fingers crossed!

[MNNiceorIce]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 8:41am

How early should you get there for rush on Sunday if the Box Office opens at noon.

[marknyc]

Posted: 2/17/20 at 2:24am

I saw "West Side Story" on Valentine's Day, and I wanted to take a few days to compose my thoughts before I posted.  

First, the good: I'm happy the score was not tampered with (I'd heard crazy rumors about hip hop being added, etc).   What a relief to hear the score exactly as written (minus a few instruments and some cuts).  Second, the singing was beautiful - everyone delivered the spine-tingling notes of the score beautifully.  It should make for a great OCR.

But from there, things go downhill.  33 members of the cast are making their Broadway debuts, and it shows. Some of the scenes literally came off like a high school production - that's a killer in a show as dramatically intense as WSS. While the video worked at some points (as it did in van Hove's production of All About Eve) at many other moments it completely overpowered the actors onstage. It made them seem small and insignificant in the cavernous Broadway Theater.  It was hard to focus on the dancers in front of you when the video was so huge (this was especially bothersome when the video was not live, but prerecorded).

I think the direction bothered me most of all.  WSS works because the negativity of the gang warfare is countered with an incredible, hopeful love story.  It's the true love we all dream of: seeing someone across a crowded room and experiencing sparks shooting into space. Its pure joy takes us out of the awful, inevitable stink of life on the street.

But van Hove never lets it take off.  I don't know if the two leads never had any chemistry, or if the director didn't allow it to blossom, but it wasn't visible onstage.  Their meeting at the dance, rather than letting them leave the world and see only each other, now has them meeting while the gangs stare at them - hardly romantic.  The balcony scene is oddly staged: Tony runs around Maria rather than embracing her, and we are hammered over the head with obvious symbolism: gang members literally pulling them apart from each other.  Not only is that too blatant, it once again prevents the love story from taking flight.  Without that love story, the show collapses.

Tony finally had the street toughness his character usually lacks (in fact, Isaac Powell is one of the best things about the show), but Maria is not allowed the growth her character needs.  She should begin as an innocent - a classic ingenue. Sure, she can be smart and tough, but she has to first appear as someone like The Girl in "The Fantasticks" - dreaming of love rather than understanding it.  That makes the moment when Baby John puts the shawl over her head at the end so powerful: it subtly (not blatantly) shows her final transition into a woman of the real world.  This Maria is too tough and experienced at the start, leaving little room for the change into the later Maria.  And I do think "I Feel Pretty" could have stayed in had it been moved earlier, as in the film.  Cutting it takes away Maria's only solo, and diminishes the female energy of the show (needed to balance all the testosterone).

Finally, the dance.  I was worried about how I would react to the elimination of Robbins' iconic moves, but I was ready for some exciting 21st century dance moves.  Instead, I saw second-rate 20th century ballet.  What I saw didn't feel contemporary at all - it felt like a pale imitation of Robbins' brilliance.  And a prologue that begins with five minutes of standing and walking?  C'mon.

Overall, the show is over-directed and overplayed.  Too many instances of people standing literally nose to nose!  Too much posturing and expressing things physically rather than emotionally.  I'm all for reinventing a classic, but the reinvention needs to be at least as good as the original.

P.S. It was great to see so many young people in the theater.  And it was wonderful to hear the teenage girl behind me loudly gasp when Chino fires.  Oh to see WSS for the first time again!

Updated On: 2/17/20 at 02:24 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/17/20 at 7:01am

Issac is fabulous don’t miss him in this. No understudies last night. As mention Amar got tons of boos during curtain call" - WldKingdomHM 

First there were protests outside the theatre. Now there are boos in the theatre. What next? I doubt if he exits via the Stage Door. - A Director

As long as they limit the booing to curtain calls, I see no problem with that. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/17/20 at 12:00pm

WldKingdomHM said:  "No understudies last night. As mention Amar got tons of boos during curtain call"

Fake News.  

[Dublin2]

Posted: 2/17/20 at 8:32pm

You don't attend the theater clearly and have not been to West Side Story. For the past two weeks, Amar has been getting boos, confirmed by me and the others that have attended and mentioned it in this thread. Which makes sense because he sucks.

REAL News. 

[bk]

Posted: 2/17/20 at 9:06pm

Dublin2 said: "You don't attend the theater clearly and have not been to West Side Story. For the past two weeks, Amar has been getting boos, confirmed by me and the others that have attended andmentioned it in this thread. Which makes sense because he sucks.

REAL News."

So, two or three idiots booing is Amar getting boos?  Have I got that right?  Would you like to tell us all how the curtain call is staged?  Are these "boos" coming from the balcony, all two or three of 'em?

[CopleyScott17]

Posted: 2/17/20 at 9:15pm

Dublin2 said: "You don't attend the theater clearly and have not been to West Side Story. For the past two weeks, Amar has been getting boos, confirmed by me and the others that have attended andmentioned it in this thread. Which makes sense because he sucks.

REAL News."

If I recall correctly, he doesn't have a solo curtain call.  So if people are actually booing, they aren't just disrespecting their intended target, but the whole production, which is sad and rude and tacky.

[broadwaydreamer24601]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 12:42am

bk said: "Dublin2 said: "You don't attend the theater clearly and have not been to West Side Story. For the past two weeks, Amar has been getting boos, confirmed by me and the others that have attended andmentioned it in this thread. Which makes sense because he sucks.

REAL News."

So, two or three idiots booing is Amar getting boos? Have I got that right? Would you like to tell us all how the curtain call is staged? Are these "boos" coming from the balcony, all two or three of 'em?"

I was there "protest night" this past Thursday as well...it was about two people booing-not many. And correct- he does not have a solo bow so it does kind of suck for the others who are doing good work and have nothing to do with the controversy. 

[bk]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 1:50am

broadwaydreamer24601 said: "bk said: "Dublin2 said: "You don't attend the theater clearly and have not been to West Side Story. For the past two weeks, Amar has been getting boos, confirmed by me and the others that have attended andmentioned it in this thread. Which makes sense because he sucks.

REAL News."

So, two or three idiots booing is Amar getting boos? Have I got that right? Would you like to tell us all how the curtain call is staged? Are these "boos" coming from the balcony, all two or three of 'em?"

I was there "protest night" this past Thursday as well...it was about two people booing-not many. And correct- he does not have a solo bow so it does kind of suck for the others who are doing good work and have nothing to do with the controversy."

So, the guy who posts about all this booing and "real news" is, well, I don't know... silly?  Two people booing, which is what I've heard it was, and they're clearly NOT booing Amar because he doesn't have a solo bow.  So, like most of this "protest" stuff, it's nothing but a bunch of BS - a few teens feeling their oats, so to speak.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 6:26am

What a total shxxit of a show.

To subject the entire cast to the sound of even ONE boo is disgusting even if it is intended for a single person.

The cast know to whom it is intended but that sound after all their hard work must be so demoralising.

How they constantly rise above what is going on all around them they all deserve to wear that special Robe[forgot the new name].

I just hope this production is a massive hit.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 6:38am

The Legacy Robe.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 6:52am

SweetLips22 said: “...they all deserve to wear that special Robe..."

The Legacy Robe goes to the chorus member with the most Broadway credits. Most of this chorus is making their Broadway debut.

And don’t worry about them, a few boos vs 1,200+ people clapping and the volume of the stage monitors is not likely to be heard on stage. 

 

[MNNiceorIce]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 8:09am

When I saw the Sunday matinee, I heard no boo-ing at the curtain call.

Also...it’s plain to see that he’s just, well, not good in the role to begin with. Bad acting, arguably weak singing, and his dancing wasn’t as sharp as the ensemble. I found myself watching the ensemble more than him during America or the Dance at the Gym. Which is too bad because the Anita is giving 200% of herself to every part of the role.

[Blue_Lotus]

Posted: 2/18/20 at 12:28pm

Dublin2 said: "You don't attend the theater clearly and have not been to West Side Story. For the past two weeks, Amar has been getting boos, confirmed by me and the others that have attended andmentioned it in this thread. Which makes sense because he sucks.

REAL News."

So much hatred. Such ugly behavior. What is the goal. What is trying to be accomplished by doing this? 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 2/19/20 at 6:16pm

I've been looking at this show as a possibility for a trip to the city, but I honestly don't know.  There are so many conflicting reviews about whether the projections help or hurt the show, I've heard different things about the singing, the dancing, etc., and no matter what I think about the casting of Amar, the controversy surrounding it has made it impossible to differentiate the actor from the character in my mind.  So I honestly don't know what to do.

[Piparoo]

Posted: 2/19/20 at 7:06pm

The reviews will be out tomorrow.  Perhaps they will help make up your mind.  I’m betting that the reviews will be extremely positive.