by Anuja Shah - Montgomery Blair High School
Thursday, November 17, 2005 - Washington Post Montgomery Weekly, Page 9
An exploration of love, hate and gang rivalry, "West Side Story," adapted from Shakespeare's tragic "Romeo and Juliet," takes on a unique intensity with Leonard Bernstein's complex musical arrangements, Stephen Sondheim's lyrics and the demanding choreography of Jerome Robbins.
"West Side Story," which debuted on Broadway in 1957, is a difficult show to perform. In its production last weekend, Winston Churchill High School did well by the theatrical classic: Its Sharks bit hard, its Jets soared and, boy, could those girls mambo. Though many of the dances were reminiscent of the 1961 film version of the play, the actors brought unique expression to their roles and were supported by the tremendous energy of their respective ensembles and the versatile set.
Tony (Ben Hoffman) and Maria (Andi Voigtmann), ill-fated lovers with ties to the rival Sharks and Jets gangs, were allowed only a few moments alone together, but these moments were fueled by a dynamic vocal and physical chemistry. Hoffman's strong voice and presence were a complement to Voigtmann's softer voice and innocent characterization.
Opening with a well-paced and steady Jet song, Riff (Jonathan Carty) took effortless charge of the Jets. Anita (Amy Tilles), too, came on strong; alternately passionate and reserved, her wit fell evenly against the dry gravity of an intimidating Bernardo (Rami Ayyub). Conversely, the role of pushover Gladhand (Michael Butvinik) was comically grand. The initial butt of the Jets' jokes, Anybodys (Talia Gottlieb) became more noteworthy as the show progressed.
The ensembles, particularly the Jets gang and the Sharks girls, backed the leads with immense energy and true-to-character flourishes, most enjoyably during the dance-off. The production also was impressive from a technical standpoint. While the occasional crackle or over-amplification was noticeable, the sound was well coordinated. The dramatic lighting and fog, though distracting at times, were creative mood-setting devices. The set, though fixed, proved remarkably versatile, and, though Churchill's stage crew was visible, scene changes occurred quickly and precisely. The standing ovation the cast, crew and orchestra received was well deserved. The show will be presented again this weekend.
photo by Joel Richardson - The Washington Post
