| ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Review from Peterborough Examiner:
Raw energy in 'West Side Story'
New St. James Players production a joyous way to celebrate months of hard work
Posted By BEA QUARRIE
Eloise and Abelard. Romeo and Juliet. Tristan and Isolde. True life or fictional characters, these star-crossed
lovers have inspired generations of artists. In the 1950s, Arthur Laurents wrote the story of Maria and Tony.
Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim set it to music and a modern American classic was born. A film
version with Natalie Wood, Richard Brenner and Rita Moreno became an instant success in 1961. St James
Players celebrated its 36th season with the opening of "West Side Story" at Showplace Friday night. And what a
night it was. Seldom has there been such a satisfying harnessing of raw energies as in this current production.
There are 47 performers, 16 orchestra members and almost double that number of backstage people involved in
the telling of these lovers tale. Director Beau Dixon has focused the predominantly young cast toward a smooth
cinematic style where the driving force of the story is in the music. This was a strong choice, since many of the
songs are so well known that any weakness there would seem much larger than it actually is. In this he is
blessed with strong performers. As Tony, Steven Case is an effervescent and beautifully modulated singer, and
also a credible actor. Jade O'Keeffe, fresh and tremulous, is equally sweet in her portrayal of Maria. As
counterpoints, Erin Clair has the spitfire bravado of Anita, and Luke Foster can hold his own in the fight scenes
as Bernardo.
Most of the action of this musical is in the dancing. It is hard to believe that when legendary Jerome Robbins first
choreographed the original production, he was lambasted for edifying the street gangs of New York. He was
even called anti-American because he abandoned the balletic beautiful line then popular in favour of robust,
muscular movement now so commonplace in modern dance.
For this production, a group of nine choreographers can take a bow for moving a largely untrained group of eager
if inexperienced youngsters through their paces. Wisely they have chosen to concentrate more on movement
than dance, with the exception of Rachel Hart's ballet solo.
The cohesive force behind such an unusual approach then goes to director Beau Dixon whose obvious love for
this evocative work is felt in every scene, in every musical phrasing and in every actor's breath. He makes use of
every playing level, pushing the action beyond the usual proscenium walls. It also helps that he is an
accomplished musician, and his orchestral and choral directors are the brothers Justin and Mark Hiscox.
This musical has everything that the genre demands -- dances and songs of brotherhood for the gangs, songs of
dreams and hopes and fears, songs both ironic and cutting close to the immigrant experience -- America -- but
through it all, the incredible vitality and hope and joie de vivre shines through.
On this opening night there were some glitches with lighting and guns failing to go off, but the overriding feeling
of exuberence was best summed up when after the curtain call, the entire cast let out a spontaneous celebratory
whoop behind the proscenium curtain.
What a joyous way to celebrate an effort of months of collaborative work from so many dedicated people. Well
done, St James Players! Now go see it Peterborough, and celebrate the joy!
Raw energy in 'West Side Story'
New St. James Players production a joyous way to celebrate months of hard work
Posted By BEA QUARRIE
Eloise and Abelard. Romeo and Juliet. Tristan and Isolde. True life or fictional characters, these star-crossed
lovers have inspired generations of artists. In the 1950s, Arthur Laurents wrote the story of Maria and Tony.
Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim set it to music and a modern American classic was born. A film
version with Natalie Wood, Richard Brenner and Rita Moreno became an instant success in 1961. St James
Players celebrated its 36th season with the opening of "West Side Story" at Showplace Friday night. And what a
night it was. Seldom has there been such a satisfying harnessing of raw energies as in this current production.
There are 47 performers, 16 orchestra members and almost double that number of backstage people involved in
the telling of these lovers tale. Director Beau Dixon has focused the predominantly young cast toward a smooth
cinematic style where the driving force of the story is in the music. This was a strong choice, since many of the
songs are so well known that any weakness there would seem much larger than it actually is. In this he is
blessed with strong performers. As Tony, Steven Case is an effervescent and beautifully modulated singer, and
also a credible actor. Jade O'Keeffe, fresh and tremulous, is equally sweet in her portrayal of Maria. As
counterpoints, Erin Clair has the spitfire bravado of Anita, and Luke Foster can hold his own in the fight scenes
as Bernardo.
Most of the action of this musical is in the dancing. It is hard to believe that when legendary Jerome Robbins first
choreographed the original production, he was lambasted for edifying the street gangs of New York. He was
even called anti-American because he abandoned the balletic beautiful line then popular in favour of robust,
muscular movement now so commonplace in modern dance.
For this production, a group of nine choreographers can take a bow for moving a largely untrained group of eager
if inexperienced youngsters through their paces. Wisely they have chosen to concentrate more on movement
than dance, with the exception of Rachel Hart's ballet solo.
The cohesive force behind such an unusual approach then goes to director Beau Dixon whose obvious love for
this evocative work is felt in every scene, in every musical phrasing and in every actor's breath. He makes use of
every playing level, pushing the action beyond the usual proscenium walls. It also helps that he is an
accomplished musician, and his orchestral and choral directors are the brothers Justin and Mark Hiscox.
This musical has everything that the genre demands -- dances and songs of brotherhood for the gangs, songs of
dreams and hopes and fears, songs both ironic and cutting close to the immigrant experience -- America -- but
through it all, the incredible vitality and hope and joie de vivre shines through.
On this opening night there were some glitches with lighting and guns failing to go off, but the overriding feeling
of exuberence was best summed up when after the curtain call, the entire cast let out a spontaneous celebratory
whoop behind the proscenium curtain.
What a joyous way to celebrate an effort of months of collaborative work from so many dedicated people. Well
done, St James Players! Now go see it Peterborough, and celebrate the joy!
"West Side Story"
Presented in November 2008
St. James Players
Showplace Peterborough
Directed by Beau Dixon
Presented in November 2008
St. James Players
Showplace Peterborough
Directed by Beau Dixon