Song and dance under the stars
Although the words may strike today’s audience as a bit na?ve, West Side Story is a classic and the two planned performances in Larnaca this week promise to be great entertainment
West Side Story takes to the stage as part of Larnaca’s July Festival 2007 in a 50th anniversary production starring performers and musicians direct from London’s West End. “Breathtaking dance routines” choreographed by Mykal Rand (of Starlight Express, Rent, and Grease – Larnaca), and an award-winning musical score created by Leonard Bernstein, promise to provide two unforgettable evenings in Larnaca’s Pattichion amphitheatre on July 1 and 2.
The two-hour 45-minute show will be specially adapted to suit the unique environment of the open-air venue and will have first-class costumes, set, lighting and sound; the characters constantly bursting into either song or dance under the stars. It is in these songs and dances that the very essence of the musical exists.
Bernstein, who died in 1990, was a major, charismatic celebrity in modern classical music and on Broadway and led the New York Philharmonic orchestra. His popular score for the show, which is still widely performed and loved today, includes songs such as ‘Something’s Coming’, ‘Maria’, ‘I Want to be in America,’ ‘Somewhere,’ ‘Tonight’, ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’, ‘I Feel Pretty’, ‘One Hand, One Heart’, ‘The Jet Song’ and ‘Cool’. Bernstein was said to have had the skills to write music considerably more complex and sophisticated than contained in most musicals.
In this gripping romance, inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the audience is transported to modern-day New York City for the tale of two young star-crossed lovers. Anton (Tony), of local American gang the Jets, falls in love with Maria, sister of a member of rival Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. The ill-fated pair is tragically caught between the warring street gangs. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is reportedly “one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time”. The modern viewer may be tempted to look at this tale and think it na?ve and innocent due to the somewhat censored language, which was hip in its day. But the story it tells is no more dated than it was at its inception 50 years ago.
The Larnaca production is to be performed in English with an onstage cast of 28 performers, and a touring company totalling 53. All music will be performed live by the West End Theatre Orchestra featuring 13 musicians conducted by musical director, Andrew Smith, of The Lion King, We Will Rock You at London’s Party in the Park, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!
The world premiere of West Side Story in 1957, reputedly Broadway’s greatest musical, was a roaring success, leading to 733 sold-out performances, which then led the musical to a globe-trotting tour. The 1961 film version, starring Natalie Wood as Maria, gained three Golden Globes, Directors Guild and Critics Circle Awards, and 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with George Chakiris, winning an Oscar as Bernado in the timeless classic.
Larnaca Festival audiences may already be familiar with production designer, Ben M Rogers whose international career spans dance, opera, drama, musical theatre and live events. Rogers’ previous designs for Cyprus include Evita, Fame and Grease for the Larnaca Festival and he has also provided the lighting production for Pavarotti, Lord of the Dance and Remos in concert in Cyprus.
Maria is played by Sophia Ragavelas, billed as “one the most outstanding West End stars of her generation”, with “tremendous vocal talent, thrilling acting and accomplished dance skills”. Over the past few years she has starred in some of the biggest West End shows including leading roles of Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables, the lead role in Mamma Mia!, Jennifer in The Witches of Eastwick and roles in The Lion King, Romeo and Juliet and Jesus Christ Superstar. Ragavelas, also an accomplished dancer, can be seen in Kylie Minogue’s ‘Spinning Around’ video.
Tony is played by Dougal Irvine, a graduate from the Mountview Academy in London. He is one of the most sought after young musical theatre performers in the UK and probably best known in the West End for his critically-acclaimed portrayal of Mark in the hit musical Rent. Irvine has also starred in Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures and The Good Woman of Setzuan at the Leicester Haymarket and toured the UK in leading roles in Summer Holiday, Miss Saigon and Singing in the Rain. Irvine also played the role of Mr Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Also a songwriter, he is currently completing his debut album for release later this year.
Other performers include Stephane Anelli as Bernado, who recently played the lead role of Tony Manero in the West End production of Saturday Night Fever; and dancer, singer and martial arts expert Matt Cross as Riff, currently starring alongside Judy Dench in Merry Wives–The Musical at the RSC in Stratford.
The New York Mirror calls this production of West Side Story “a superlative musical; a chiller, a thriller, as up-to-the-minute as tomorrow’s headlines.” I’ve bought my tickets…
West Side Story
An Andrew Lloyd Weber musical staged by Louder Than Words with a cast of leading performers from London’s West End. July 1 and 2. Patticheon Municipal Amphitheatre, Larnaca. 9pm. Tel: 24-665795/ 24-657745
