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West Side Story Reviews
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| 31 |
Review by: Theater Fan, Oct 18, 2009 |
| I was very much looking forward to this show. Unfortunately I walked away disappointed. Every time I see a show, I will get teary eyed. Not necessarily because the show is sad, but because those on-stage convey such emotion. Not this one. For most of the show it seemed as if it was a poor high school production...some struggling vocals, waek acting, lack of chemistry between the leads. Definitely not worth the money. I would pay the ... read more same amount for some high school productions I have seen over the years compared to this show. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 32 |
Don't mess with Sondheim. Review by: lovable lee, Oct 12, 2009 |
| Where did they get those leads. There was no chemistry between Maria and Tony. Maria was adequate. The understudy for Tony was better than the lead.Spanish worked in In the Heights. No here. Should have been an exciting night in the theater. |
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Don't go
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| 33 |
VERY Dissappointed Review by: Javy, Oct 1, 2009 |
Saw the Revival of West Side Story. I have to say that I was VERY disappointed by the Production. The show started very slow and bland. It picked up a little as the story went along, but dropped towards intermission. The dancing and singing at times became bland and weak. The production was Nothing to be Impressed about.
It did bring a lot of Latin Audience to the Show, but I feel that you can see " In the Heights" and be entertained . |
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| 34 |
Big Letdown Review by: Grace, Sep 23, 2009 |
| AWFUL!! Don't waste your time or money. I was very disappointed with the voices. I really was looking forward to seeing this play and walked out very disillutioned. Terrible. |
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| 35 |
Review by: i don't do sadness, Sep 20, 2009 |
| Contrary to many opinions, I totally and completely loved West Side Story. The choreography and talent of the dancers was unbelievable and left me speechless, and the music touched my heart. I loved the majority of the actors, especially Karen Olivo and Josefina Scaglione, but I thought that they could've picked a better choice for Tony (Matt Cavanaugh). The Spanish included in the show was definitely a diverse and interesting addition,... read more, and I really enjoyed the change. Overall, I would totally recommend West Side Story! |
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must see!
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Family
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 36 |
Very Disappointed! Review by: NYCHK1, Sep 16, 2009 |
First off I read that after 8/20/09 they would pull back some of the "Spanish integration"...unfortunately I attended tonight 9/16/09 and I didn't feel any pulling back...The entire "I Feel Pretty" was in Spanish.
I see most musicals and this was my biggest disappointment of 2009. The first 3-4 scenes were terribly acted and lacked feeling and emotion, almost as if they were reading lines off of cue cards. Next, we have the mismosh ... read more of Spanish and English like a bad Telemundo special - it became incredibly distracting. I have to agree with others that the cast really did lack chemistry, everyone seemed to be doing their own thing and not connecting with each other. After many scenes I looked at my friend and we shook our heads. At intermission and after the show several folks were stating their disappointments. The last scene of the show was beyond horrible. Tony drops dead and Maria drops him like a rag doll and rushes her lines forward. There is no credibility to her holding a gun and she absolutely does not come off as a uniter. Finally, it's almost offensive that the producers removed the overture from this show. It's cold opening is just that, chilling and emotionless.
There are some talented folks in this show, and I will say the production elements (scenery, lighting) were great. The chereography was EXCELLENT. And while I can see why people have issues with Matt Cavenaugh playing Tony, he got better as the show progressed. Maria was very cute but needs to focus more on the acting elements. The strongest performer (no surprise) was by far Karen Olivo. I wish SHE was playing Maria.
All in all, despite the talent, I was extremely disappointed in the show and I could tell many others there were as well. I was really annoyed as I left that a show of this stature was so badly produced...it just didn't feel right. I rarely say this but I would NOT recommend this show. I will not see it again unless the producers made some serious changes. |
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| 37 |
No redeeming qualities in this West Side Story... Review by: Tracey, Sep 8, 2009 |
| As a West Side Story lover, I never thought anything could ruin this wonderful musical for me. I was wrong, this production of the show awful. The acting was some of the worst I have ever seen on Broadway. The actor who plays Tony has got to go. I had seen him in Grey Gardens and know he can act, but in this role he is completely miscast. Everytime he opened his mouth to sing I wanted to cover my ears and people around me actually laughed.... read more. Maria was adorable and sang well, but her acting left much to be desired as well. This show was overwhelmingly dull. There was no chemistry between any of the characters and no genuine emotion. The spanish was unnecessary and actually took away from the show, and the rumble was without any excitement. The women seated in front of us left at intermission and the audience members around us were talking about how disappointing the show was. The kid singing Somewhere was off-key and why he sang the song in the first place is a mystery. We were in the mezzanine which was only half full... leads me to believe that people are starting to listen to the terrible reviews and skipping West Side Story. I advise you to do the same as this show will surely disappoint West Side Story fans and newcomers alike. |
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| 38 |
They ruined the ending! Review by: Broadway Fan, Sep 6, 2009 |
| West Side Story is my favorite musical. I have seen over 25 productions ranging from high school to Broadway. This production was ruined by the direction and the deletion of crucial lines and emotions. The singing, acting and choreography were wonderful. I know that Matt Cavenaugh has been criticized for his portrayal of Tony, but I thought he was terrific. He has an amazing tenor voice. Likewise, the other leads were very good. However,... read more, some of the lines were rushed. Maria showed little emotion (anger/sorrow) when Tony enters her bedroom after killing her brother. The use of the boy to sing Somewhere was a nice addition. The use of Spanish and English lines by the Sharks felt awfully contrived and detracted from the power of the play. Most importantly, the ending was ruined. In the play and the movie, Tony's untimely death is used to unite the gangs as they come to Maria's assistance and join together to carry out his body. Romeo and Juliet serves the same purpose at its conclusion. In this show, the ending comes abruptly and without emotion or any resolution. The show was ruined. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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Alone
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Seniors, Tourists
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| 39 |
Review by: PEL, Sep 5, 2009 |
| An iconic, beloved show that we were really looking forward to. Appreciate the director tried something different with the language (and we saw it after more of the English was restored so that helped). Some odd choices that didn't work for us--the PR girls were still in below-knee-length dresses but the American girls in mini skirts, so what time period was this supposed to be?; missed the boys in "America" as the girl who ... read more sang about missing PR was weak--would have been more effective with the Bernardo character singing those lines; too often the leads just stood there with their arms at their sides (ruining "Somthing's Coming" for me, one of my all-time favorites--where was his excitement that the lyrics indicated?); what was with the kid singing "Somewhere?"--noticed him inserted into an earlier scene and we were like, "who is that?"--was very distracting to have him there and not have the lovers sing that song; Maria not very ethnic looking so hard to imagine they were from different backgrounds; at one point Maria's bed is slid onto the stage in a way that was slightly comical and distracting; the ending was too abrupt and didn't provide enough closure as when the two gangs carry Tony out. I guess those are the main things. It just wasn't the exhilarating night of theater we were so hoping for though the beautiful, timeless music is still in my head!! |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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| 40 |
Very disappointing... Review by: jgio, Aug 26, 2009 |
Went to the show with high expectations and was very disappointed to say the least. The sharks and jets did not look like macho street kids. There was no emotion between Maria or Tony. Anita was too big compared to the other female actors.
I always felt, even before I saw the show, that the Spanish instead of English dialogue and songs would not work. Seeing the show confirmed my feelings. Someone told me yesterday that they are ... read more dropping some of the Spanish.
You don't take an iconic American masterpiece and mess with it. |
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| 41 |
All the right ingredients placed in the wrong order! Review by: Jean-François, Aug 25, 2009 |
I saw the show West Side Story at the Palace Theatre in New York last Saturday and I thought the cast was great. Although I was moved by the acting, the dancing and the singing, I was very disturbed by the positioning of certain scenes in the play.
First, I whish the intermission would have been after the TONIGHT quintet. It would have left us hanging with the excitement of the rumble coming as oppose to down because of the death ... read more of two teenagers. Then, It would have been great to open act II with COOL, which would have prepared us for THE RUMBLE.
However, the worse thing for me was the placement of the GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE scene in act II. It completely destroyed the act. I was incapable of finding it funny even though the actors were great. I could not understand how the Jets could have fun play-acting when their leader Riff had just been murdered. It was just not the time for this scene that should have been placed in act I after we see the officer the first time. By the way, it is better when the officer is a good guy.
On the same level, I whish I FEEL PRETTY would have been in the first act as well. Once again it was too light and happy to take place after the tragic end of the rumble. It seemed that it would have been more appropriate before the dance at the gym. As for the Spanish issue, which seems to be a great deal for a lot of people, I find it a good idea although not for entire scenes or songs. I would have done at least half the song in English.
More, as I was getting ready for the great song SOMEWHERE, I was disappointed that it was barely there. Instead a young boy with, it is true, a beautiful voice arrived from nowhere and sang in the place of Maria and Tony. Furthermore, the dreamlike scene that followed broke the flow again. If kept at all, this scene should be moved at the very end after Maria's last speech as an end leading into the curtain call.
Finally, this last speech given by Maria was lacking in stage spectators, meaning the Jets and the Sharks, boy and girls together. Where was everybody? The stage was empty and nobody was there to learn the lesson. The speech she is giving is the point of the play.
After all I have said, it is difficult to believe that I am glad I saw the play but it is true. The actors were great, the music enchanting and the dancing fabulous and, in spite of the fact that the second act left me full of unreleased sadness, I enjoyed the show.
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
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| 42 |
West Side Story......once was enough Review by: rp, Jun 15, 2009 |
| I was so excited to see West Side Story on Broadway in NYC and have to say I had mixed feelings with this production. I loved the music, story, dancing etc., but something was lacking.....it was good not great. I was not impressed with actor who played Tony...I thought Maria was well cast and sang beautifully....and unfortunately Anita's part was played by her understudy, who I felt was another disappointment, didn't have that fire!! My big ... read more issues are: the scene with the Puerto Rican girls sing, America, should of have been kept as originally done with the PR boys in the movie, that was a classic scene and would of added so much more to the excitement. I agree with many of the reviewers on you can't perfect on perfection, if it ain't broke don't fix it!!....all the songs should of been sung in english to keep it real and understandable!! (even though I know the songs..some might not). Would I pay to see it again..NOT....I'll be watching the perfect CD version of this movie.... |
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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:
Anyone
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| 43 |
Would not recommend it Review by: , Jun 7, 2009 |
| Overall I enjoyed the play. Maria was perfectly cast and has a voice to die for, as did many of the cast members. I didn't like the way they rearranged some of the scenes. My biggest complaint is that I could not understand some very important and funny parts of the play because they were in Spanish. The actors were the only ones laughing because very few of the audience knew what they were saying. It was a shame they felt the need to ... read more exclude so much of the audience. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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| 44 |
Fantastic! Review by: marnee, Apr 30, 2009 |
| I love this play!!! We all remember the movie, but this revival is even better in my opinion. They have made some changes which are refreshing.....spanish is used- making it more authentic, somewhere is sung by kiddo (Kyle Brenn) which makes the song more meaningful, and Maria (Josephina Scaglione) and Tony (Matt Kavenaugh) are "prettier" and more innocent than before. The talent is outrageous, and the orchestra unbelieveable (esp. today when ... read more a full orchestra is rarely used anymore!). You definitely will get your money's worth! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 45 |
Review by: GraceAnn, Apr 29, 2009 |
| You won't miss a thing if you don't see this most disappointing play. Both Tony and Maria's voices were weak. More than once Maria could not hit the notes. Do yourself a favor and see something else. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Large Group
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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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