Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno. But I do remember that Fr. James Reuter, SJ had done versions of this popular Broadway production in St. Paul College, QC. I think Nano Regalado, a Mass Comm student, played Maria.
But this Sunday afternoon, Chief and I were watching this production with mom and Miguel. We had gotten four tickets, courtesy of Jeannie Javelosa. She was also taking her parents to watch this play, but unfortunately, we didn’t see her at Meralco Theatre.
Personally, I had mom go with us as she really needed to be brought out of the house and enjoy life more. Work had been tying me down lately, even on weekends and I wanted to spend more time with my mom. Dad had died in June 2001 while Chief and I were in Vietnam. Plus, spend time with Miguel too.
I had told Miguel to wear jeans as initially he was wearing shorts. Hehehe. I told him that it was a formal program, with people dressed up for the event. When we got to the lobby, I said, “Tignan mo iyon mga tao… walang naka shorts.” Really just to emphasize what I told him earlier. In fact, Cecile also asked me to wear a shirt with collar. Hehehe.
West Side Story is a musical collaboration of Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). Did you know that it was based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?
The story tells the rivalry of two gangs in Manhattan’s West Side during the mid-50s. I think it was specifically set in Hell’s Kitchen? Not sure. But my cousin, Patrick, had brought Cecile and I around that block when we were in the Big Apple last December 2007.
Won’t tell the love story of Tony (played by Christian Bautista) and Maria or the tragic ending. Ironically, some of the audience laughed towards the end as they heard the sound effect of gun shot.
Probably the most popular song out of this musical is “Maria.” I whispered to Miguel that he should take note of this song. As the musical moved forward, we heard other songs like "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight," “Cool” and "I Feel Pretty." I remember I heard Jack Nickolson hum that tune in the 2003 movie "Anger Management."
The 1957 Broadway production ran for 732 performances and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical. “The Music Man” eventually went to get that award in 1957. It did win an award for choreography.
In 1961, a movie version was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. Did you know that Robbins, who directed the stage version, was fired because the movie’s budget had gone overboard? Still, the film won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
This local stage version probably won’t win any awards or get a lot of praises, but it would surely help strengthen the ties between parents and children who shared the music and the story of Tony and Maria. I know Miguel will look back years from now and probably hum one of the tunes from West Side Story.
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