Go ’West’

Touring cast freshens up classic ’West Side Story’

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Translating Stephen Sondheim lyrics into Spanish soundslike an experiment destined to end in disaster. But, for the most part,the slightly revised “West Side Story” at Wharton Center worksextremely well, even though the show ultimately clicks because of theway it honors the original material, not because of the tweaking.

If you haven’t seen “Story” lately, youmay be slightly taken aback by how timely (or timeless) it seems.Thankfully, director David Saint and his team haven’t attempted tobring the tale of Tony and Maria into the present-day: The dialogue isstill full of “daddy-o”s, “buddy boy”s and lines like, “You better digthis — and dig it the most” that make it clear we’re in late-1950s NewYork.

Even so, in a time when politicians continue to vilifythose “outsiders” who have slipped into America, the vicious jabs —both verbal and physical — between the native New Yorker Jets and thePuerto Rican Sharks seem sadly of-the-moment. 

Of course, part of the enduring appeal of “Story” stemsfrom its connection to “Romeo and Juliet.” Much of the rest comes fromthe sublime score that blends Sondheim’s lyrics with LeonardBernstein’s magnificent, near-operatic melodies, and the vigorous,kinetic choreography originally devised by Jerome Robbins andpainstakingly preserved here by Joey McKneely.

To carry off “Story,” a director needs a cast full of“triple-threats,” performers who excel as actors, singers and dancers,and Saint has a bumper crop of prime talent. As Tony, Ross Lekitesshows off a tenor that wraps every syllable in velvet, yet he’s equallyadept at belting when it’s required. Although Evy Ortiz’s Maria maylook tiny and fragile, she is never less than completely in command ofthose crystalline high notes, which makes her renditions of “I Have aLove” and “Tonight” both heart-meltingly pretty and passionate.

The magnetic Drew Foster effortlessly commands the stageand moves like a sinuous serpent as Riff, while Lori Ann Ferrari’searthy Anita turns her multi-colored skirts into a Technicolor tornado.As the tomboyish Anybodys, Alexandra Frohlinger’s flute-like sopranosends “Somewhere” gently into the stratosphere.

As for those Spanish lyrics, sometimesthey add an unusual angle to the songs (as in “I Feel Pretty”), and atother points they’re more of a distraction than an enhancement. In theend, “Story” remains what it has always been: brilliant and tragic andbeautiful. This company demonstrates why the musical will never go outof style.

’West Side Story’

Wharton Center

 7:30p.m. 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

$30-$70

(800) WHARTON

www.whartoncenter.com

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