http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/12/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/ A Washington DC insider's travel guide that's full of area information for both tourists and residents. Covers area attractions, activities, events, nightlife, memorials and monuments, historic sites, museums, the Smithsonian... Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:38:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/12/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1341 Katie Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:20:21 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/#comment-1341 This revival has been getting a lot of flack lately for all the changes, but I personally think that although the Spanish can sometimes be frustrating for those not fluent, it is easy to enjoy the song and the music without knowing what is being said. (especially if you know the lyrics already) The actor who played Tony grew on me as the musical continued, but his strong vibrato was not what I would have wanted to sing those beautiful songs. Anita and Maria were phenomenal, as were Action. I didn't quite get Bernardo's performance; he didn't do much besides some good dancing. The boy who sings Somewhere has had some controversy too, but the boy happened to have a nice voice and symbolized hope and longing and I found it quite moving. It did not bother me that it was sung by an "anonymous member." That's how it was in the original production anyways. The rape scene is intense and a little disturbing, yes, but it's realistic. It's an enjoyable production! This revival has been getting a lot of flack lately for all the changes, but I personally think that although the Spanish can sometimes be frustrating for those not fluent, it is easy to enjoy the song and the music without knowing what is being said. (especially if you know the lyrics already)
The actor who played Tony grew on me as the musical continued, but his strong vibrato was not what I would have wanted to sing those beautiful songs.
Anita and Maria were phenomenal, as were Action. I didn’t quite get Bernardo’s performance; he didn’t do much besides some good dancing.
The boy who sings Somewhere has had some controversy too, but the boy happened to have a nice voice and symbolized hope and longing and I found it quite moving. It did not bother me that it was sung by an “anonymous member.” That’s how it was in the original production anyways. The rape scene is intense and a little disturbing, yes, but it’s realistic.
It’s an enjoyable production!

]]> http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/12/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1472 MBL Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:41:17 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/#comment-1472 DA, you are incorrect about the order of the songs. Riff is killed along with Bernardo at the end of Act 1. Act 2 begins with "I Feel Pretty" which it always has. "Gee Officer Krupke" happens after the ballet (dream sequence) and the singing of Somewhere. DA, you are incorrect about the order of the songs. Riff is killed along with Bernardo at the end of Act 1. Act 2 begins with “I Feel Pretty” which it always has. “Gee Officer Krupke” happens after the ballet (dream sequence) and the singing of Somewhere.

]]> http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/12/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1426 Jon Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:35:20 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/#comment-1426 DA: It soulnds like the production wasn't all that great. Too bad, becasue it's a great story. DA: It soulnds like the production wasn’t all that great. Too bad, becasue it’s a great story.

]]> http://www.thedctraveler.com/2008/12/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1333 DA Sandifer Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:04:10 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/west-side-story-comes-to-washington-dc/#comment-1333 This was one of the worst productions of this great story I have ever seen. The actor playing Tony had little to no stage presence, no chemistry with the actress playing Maria (she was good) and his singing voice was devoid of passion and sounded girlish. The dancing was great, and the actress playing Anita was wonderful. The producer changed the order of the songs around, so that Gee Officer Krupke was sung right after Riff was killed.....didn't make ANY sense that a song like that would be sung after your leader is killed. The spanish songs with the translations posted was very distracting and took alot away from the performance. I don't think this play is anywhere ready for Broadway, and I know the people around me agree that this was just awful. This was one of the worst productions of this great story I have ever seen. The actor playing Tony had little to no stage presence, no chemistry with the actress playing Maria (she was good) and his singing voice was devoid of passion and sounded girlish. The dancing was great, and the actress playing Anita was wonderful. The producer changed the order of the songs around, so that Gee Officer Krupke was sung right after Riff was killed…..didn’t make ANY sense that a song like that would be sung after your leader is killed. The spanish songs with the translations posted was very distracting and took alot away from the performance. I don’t think this play is anywhere ready for Broadway, and I know the people around me agree that this was just awful.

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