This is just for my own curiousity...nothing against saying that anyone in the cast looks too old or something.
The movie is obviously stuck in my mind, and I've never really thought of them as High School kids...and they have probably never been played by High School kids (except when done in a High School!).
However, the dance is at a High School gym, so that makes me think of a High School. But some of them have jobs that I don't see being an "after school job"...like the girls at the dress factory...but that might have been only been in the film version.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
In response to the original post, I always figured that Tony and Riff were in their early 20s. I think the Jets started out as a high school gang and as Riff and Tony got older they stuck around with the gang. Well, Riff did anyway. I don't think they're much older than twenty-one, though; around that age even the die-hard nostalgic high school kids are finally starting to sever ties. And I figure Action and Diesel are from that age, while Baby John and Anybodys are probably closer to high school age.
And I think that the Sharks are a few years older, but not much. Bernardo and Anita are old enough to establish a household, and the Sharks in general have come to America to establish a better life for themselves -- not their families. There's definitely some maturity in that. Which would probably make Maria around Tony's age, seeing as she's younger than Bernardo.
"You mean what was the best picture of the year or what did they pick as the best picture of the year?" - California Suite
Those are the ages I always thought they were Curtain. Tony is just old enough to start seeing adulthood looming and has the need to have a job and separate himself from the gang.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
I'd, personally, add an extra year to Tony's age and make him 19. Riff looks up to him in a way that suggests they're slightly more than a year apart in age.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".