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West Side Story Musical Reviews
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| 1 |
Review by: bandcmoore, Mar 12, 2010 |
Great revival of one of broadway's classics.
Cast was excellent and they really delivered a moving perfomance.
The mix of spanish and english, especially during the songs was a big distraction for someone who is a big fan of the original. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 2 |
We walked out Review by: Sad, Nov 27, 2009 |
We are avid broadway goers, and with 25 or more shows under our belt this one ranked rock bottom. The only worthy note came from “Anita” during America.
“Maria” although beautiful lacks any range and between her and “Tony” the musical stays in the high alto. “Tony” has absolutely no reason to be on Broadway; truth be told he probably shouldn’t be on off-broadway. “Tony” has no voice and cannot act at all. Choreograph was at the basic ... read more level and you would never guess this group had been dancing so long together. Its as if you could hear the timer. I do have to give credit to stage handlers and the scene designer. At least we saw Dick Vitale and Bobby Knight, who I was expecting to throw something at the cast for their poor offense.
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 3 |
THIS SHOW = THE WORST!!!!! Review by: jenna, Oct 7, 2009 |
| This Show Sucked!!!! i was incredibly disappointed. the best parts of this show were karen olivo and josefina scaglione!!! the directing was atrocious, and i would know that because i have been involved with theater long enough to notice. the tough guys in the gangs looked gay, and i couldnt understand what people were saying half the time. dont go see this, even if someone paid you a million dollars to go!! |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 4 |
Disappointing Review by: theatergoer, Oct 5, 2009 |
I went to the show with high expectations - the material and the music is so great, but we were very disappointed Weak voices and absolutely no chemistry between the actors. Everyone tried very hard, but there was way too much choreography and way too little edge. The fact that they buckled down critics for the last scene took much away from the ending.
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Tourists, Anyone
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| 5 |
Review by: broadwaymom, Sep 27, 2009 |
What an utter disappointment! I dont'see what all the fuss is about with this revival. My daughter and I both almost fell asleep and were debating about leaving during intermission. Having the Sharks speak/sing in Spanish added nothing to the show..the dancing was just ok but not as spectacular that I had heard. I love Matt Cavenaugh having seen him in Grey Gardens and A Catered Affair. We thought his singing was mediocre and he seemed to be ... read more acting like his Joe Kennedy Jr character from Grey Gardens with a clipped country club accent. The Jets were so so. We didn't feel there was any chemistry with the cast and felt the scenes were disjointed. We sat next to tourists who loved it so go figure.
My daughters high school has done better productions. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Tourists
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| 6 |
Great Experience!!!! Review by: Gloria, Jul 27, 2009 |
| I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this show!!! It was amazing! Get ticket and go see it! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 7 |
I've seen college productions that are better! Review by: Matt, Jul 13, 2009 |
Do not waste your time or money on this production. I have never been so upset or felt so ripped off after a Broadway show. This production lacks in every aspect possible (except the orchestra and they cut the orchestra's shining moment: the overture!)
First offense: I saw the show the Thursday evening performance following the Tony Awards. I was mortified when I looked at the "At this performance" board only to realize that Maria, Riff,... read more, and the Tony Award Winner, Anita were all understudied plus several others. I realize that awards season can be exhausting and that that day the principles had done a CD Signing, but Mr. Cavenaugh managed to make it to that evening's performance. I was just shocked to see so many principles out at an evening performance.
Second offense: The orchestra was amazing! I would even say it was the best part of the show! Now explain to me how you cut one of the most amazing overtures written for the Broadway stage! The audience was not ready for the show to begin. They were still talking and finding their seats when the curtain went up and the action started. Even an abbreviated overture would have aided this. This just added to the sour tone already set for the evening.
Third offense: The interwoven "natural" spanish was anything but. It was gratuitous and unnecessary. Sorry Lin Manuel, but you didn't need to waste your talent doing translations for this production.
Fourth offense: The Scenic design was uninspired and boring. It looked like it was built to be taken dow and packed onto a semi for the road. It was dismal.
Fifth offense: The Costumes were just wrong. No attention was paid to historical accuracy. As is typically done, the Jets are one color palette (in this case orange with teal accents which reminds me more of the paint job of a roller coaster i.e. Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain) while the Sharks are another (purple). The design was taken to far though. The costumer decided to beat the separation of the gangs into the "ignorant" audience's head by giving the dresses on the women different lengths. The Sharks look nice in their period appropriate ruffly dresses (except for one that just didn't fit in with the rest.) The Jets, however, look like trashy prostitutes in extremely short mini-skirts that are out of place by at least a five to ten years. The designer missed event the simplest thing: when Tony got out of bed with Maria he was in boxers! He would have worn briefs.
Sixth and final offense: Arthur Laurents lacked coherent direction in this show. I get that he wanted the show to be edgier and more violent. That does not mean that "Gee Officer Krupke" (which should be a short comic detour) becomes a lewd and vulgar number. The actor portraying Action lacked total direction in how this number should go. The results are vulgar hand gestures in the lower region of the anatomy and tweaking of areola. At that point I had had enough and was ready to walk out. But like any good paying patron I sat it out.
At the end of the show before the curtain was even a third of the way in, half of the lower mezzanine was getting up and leaving. I am not exaggerating this! Most of the rows in front of me we leaving before the show was over! The cast did not receive one single standing ovation which is unfortunate because there is great talent there (especially in the dancing.)
At the end of the day, do not see this show. It is a waste of time and money. There are too many other good, fresh productions on Broadway to miss right now! |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Recommended for:
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| 8 |
Good revival, worth a view Review by: tektektek, Jul 9, 2009 |
Very well done; a fine revival of an American classic. The songs are timeless, although audiences may not like the fact that two of the songs are sung in Spanish (lyrics are translated in the Playbill). The dancing is powerful, the singing good but perhaps not great.
It was interesting for me to contrast this production versus the high school production I saw in March. There were some differences, the key of which was the ending- at the ... read more high school version, everyone slowly leaves the stage; at the Broadway production, everyone stays in position as the curtain falls. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Tourists
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| 9 |
Karen Olivo Steals the Show Review by: broadwaysandy, Jul 8, 2009 |
| I would start off by saying that West Side Story has incredible dance routines and great music. That having been said, who casted this show? What were they thinking? Karen Olivo is wonderful in the role of Anita, her voice and dance moves leave nothing to be desired. Josefina Scaglione was also incredible in the role of Maria. Unfortunately, I did not see Matt Cavanaugh and the understudy was terrible. The remainder of the actors were just ... read more not believable. Bernardo had no edge and Riff came off as a young punk. Neither of these characters lived up the standards of their predecessors. I speak spanish so the change in the two musical numbers was not a big deal to me but it was to others who were with me. I predict Karen Olivo to be the next big star of musical theatre. She was terrific as Vanessa in In the Heights and she doesn't dissapoint in West Side Story. I would steal recommend the show but I would also recommend a complete cast change with the exception of the characters of Anita and Maria and possibly Tony. I am not sorry I saw this show and if they recast the majority of the roles, I will see it again. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 10 |
see something else Review by: Marina, Jun 20, 2009 |
| This is a bad production with no energy and little emotion. I didn't like the stage design which was dark and dull and the costumes looked like they were picked up at the Gap and ruffled a bit. The performance didn't draw you in at all. I didn't care for the choreography and the singing wasn't that great except for the bright of Maria and Anita. I also didn't like that some dialogue and singing was done in Spanish. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Family
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| 11 |
Review by: Poppins35, Jun 15, 2009 |
After months of anticipation, I just could not wait to see this revival of "West Side Story." I just love when classics are revived for a new audience and to see others who have not seen the original "light up" for the first time. Unfortunately, this revival needs a revival - nothing lit up except my anger that I spent a lot of money to sit the last row of the mezzaine. My anticipation of seeing this production soon waned within ten minutes ... read more of the production. There is absolutely no energy throughout this production. First, no overture. Second, the time period was not clear through the sets nor the costumes. Was the production trying to be in the 1960's, 1990's, 2000's? No one seems to know the answer. It seemed as if the producers could not decide on which time period and threw in three decades to see what happens. Nothing happens. Thirdly, the song sequence is WAY out of order from the original. Why would the cast sing "Cool, Be Cool" before any of the action of the rumble? "I Feel Pretty" takes place in Maria's bedroom as opposed to the bridal shop and in the second act. "Officer Krupke" is in the second act and VERY vulgar. Fourth, SPANISH? No only did the songs lose their translation, but also the emotion got lost as well. The beautiful song "Somewhere" becomes a ballet sequence with a kid singing the song. WHAT?!!! Where did this kid come from? Why? This entire production was a train wreck that left the East Side and truly crashed on "the West Side."
I am avid theatre goer and take in a show twice a week. There are two shows now that I felt as if were a waste of time and money- "Spring Awakening" and now "West Side Story." |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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| 12 |
Spectacular show!!! Review by: Dharma, Jun 10, 2009 |
| Upon further reflection (see review below), I decided Cody Green's understudy was ALMOST as good as Cody, but not quite as good - see Cody Green on the dance competition "Step it Up" (he won)Trust me, this is a wonderful show, ignore the negative comments! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 13 |
Great show just do it all in English Review by: Lyn, Jun 7, 2009 |
| I thought the show was great. I loved the music, singing & dancing.I was disappointed when they spoke & sang in spanish since I don't speak the language I didn't understand what they were saying. When I pay good money for tickets I expected the play to be done in the language of our country. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Large Group
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Recommended for:
Adults
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| 14 |
A MUST SEE Review by: wally046, Jun 4, 2009 |
| This was a terrific revival: Great Bernstein score, Sondheim lyrics, and especially wonderful Jerome Robbins choreography. Standouts among the energetic cast were Matt Cavanaugh, Josephina Scaglione, and Karen Olivo, who will win the Tony for her outstanding performance. If you're not moved by this show, you must be in a coma! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| Acting: |
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 15 |
See something else Review by: Noe, Jun 3, 2009 |
| I was so disappointed with West Side Story! This was one of the shows I most looked forward to seeing after traveling all the way from Hawaii. It was the very first show of our week and of the 5 shows we went to, it rates at the very bottom of the list. Like other reviewers, I could not wait for it to be over. Karen Olivo was outstanding and the male dancers were very good but there was something missing....I can't put my finger on it. ... read more I love musical theater and rarely see a show I don't like. I'm interested to see how it does on Tony night. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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