Not the same old ‘Story’

Can some Spanish flavor spice up ‘West Side Story’? Si, se puede, says one of the tour’s stars

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One of the ways in which theater trumps other forms of media is that you never see exactly the same show twice.

“West Side Story” — written by Arthur Laurents, withmusic by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim — was firstperformed in 1957, and in the 50-plus yea

rs since then, much of theoriginal has remained constant, with only minor changes to keep themusical fresh while maintaining its timeless appeal.

The musical is based on  Shakespeare’s“Romeo and Juliet.” using the violent atmosphere of gang warfare tojuxtapose the romance that blooms between Tony, a member of the nativeJets, and Maria, whose brother is one of the Puerto Rican Sharks.

The characters are “surrounded by racism, hatred, andbigotry — and love tries to surpass all of that,” says Ross Lekites,who plays Tony in the touring cast, which comes to the Wharton CenterTuesday.

(The following night, the Oscar-winning film version of“West Side Story” returns to theaters for a 50th anniversary showing at7 p.m. Nov. 9, at Lansing Mall Cinemas; call (517) 321-1521 for ticketinformation.)

The unique character of “West Side Story” is partly dueto some of the late-1950s slang that the characters use; that remains,in some form, in this latest version.

One of the most pervasive aspects of the current versionof the show, however, is the inclusion of musical segments with Spanishlyrics.

“It gives the Sharks more of a sense of a personal character, Lekites said. “It empowers them more than (they were) originally.”

Evy Ortiz plays opposite Lekites as Maria. Of theactresses to have played the character on Broadway over the years, sheis one of the first who is actually Puerto Rican. Lekites says thatadds greater depth and authenticity to her portrayal.

“She brought in pictures on one of the first rehearsaldays of her family,” he said. “They look like Maria and (othercharacters), all up on the rooftop of their apartment in New York City.  And I think to her it definitely hits home.”

Two of the show’s songs, “A Boy Like That” and “I FeelPretty,” are sung partly in Spanish, adding more of that ethnicauthenticity.

Part of the show’s enduring power comes from a lamentablecommon thread stretching from the 1950s up to the present day. “It’ssad that racism is still a huge part of our society and our dailylife,” Lekites said.

Social issues, such as America’s changing ethniclandscape, certainly play a critical role, but there is yet anothercore value at the heart of this “West Side Story.” David Saint, thedirector of this latest incarnation, was a close friend of Laurents.

“David Saint worked with Arthur on the Broadwayproduction as associate director, and he was Arthur’s closest friendfor 25 years,” Lekites said.

When Laurents died earlier this year, Saint inherited his estate:  “He’s as close as you can get to the playwright.”

’West Side Story’

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 , Wednesday,Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10; 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11; 2 and 8 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 12; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13

Wharton Center

(800) WHARTON

www.whartoncenter.com


 

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