Both inside and outside class I have been watching the DVD of West Side Story. Whilst watching this I have seen the story from many different angles and every time i seem to watch it I get a different impression of what some sections could mean. I have made my own notes from watching the film which will follow below but I have also used Internet aids from websites such as The Internet Movie Database.
The movie starts with Sky Views of all kinds of Different places in New York. City's, Roads, Docks and even ball parks. We then see an Inner City park where we first meet the Jets. They are all fairly casually dressed in jeans and sneakers with basic t-shirts and jackets. They then come across the Sharks the peurto Rican gang. Members of both gangs Taunt and chase one another whilst using dance moves to show these actions. Two members both from opposing gangs have a fight which is almost overly choreographed to show that it is dance rather than trying to make it look like an actual fight. This is something that seems to be shining through quite strongly already the fact that all the movements are over exaggerated in order to get the point across - This is much like Kenneth Macmillan's version of Romeo and Juliet all the movement in that piece of work even down to the facial expressions were all extremely over the top and exaggerated to give us as an audience a greater feel for the characters and what was going on within any given scene. This is something I feel that Robbins is trying to almost mimic in his musical theatre version as it draws your attention to certain sections of the performance that he wants us as an audience to see or just simply to appreciate it. Although in the context of the film these overexaggerated fight scenes may look out of place it gives us a real appreciation of the fact that Robbins knew no boundaries within dance and really pushed this theory to the limit when creating west side story.
The fight scene returns to the playground where the police turn up. The two opposing gangs seem to put up a farce and act as if they get along in front of the Two officers. However the two gangs seem to have a common hatred for the police - the only apparent thing they seem to agree on. together the two gangs make fun of the officers in a ploy to defer the interest from themselves and their arguments. The main officer then tells the sharks to leave the play ground and never return. We also see another divide between the gangs as Bernardo asks the police officer to translate what he has said in to Spanish and then uses the Spanish language to the rest of his gang.
When they leave the officer refers to them as PR's a Nick name for them However i think n this could be a racist term they use for them behind their back top show a cultural divide between the two.They almost seem to use this term as a division between the two of them. this is mimicked by the Jets gang.
We also see an issue raised with Gender identification with the young girl who dresses like one of the lads and wants to join the Jets gang. They tease her and make issues of the fact she will never be touched by a boy unless its within a fight. Another issue that is raised within this production that affects teens all across the world.
Riff and the gang then retreat to a nearby alley to plot and plan a rumble against the sharks. Riff seems offended by the fact that the sharks are on his territory . They discuss the big fight and Riff starts to mention the though of weapons, Blades and even Guns Issues again that teens are faced with every day when part of a gang. There are various members of the group spouting different opinions however what the leader says is what the gang do unfortunately and some of them are unwillingly roped into and unruly rumble.
A s Riff and the rest of the jets get more uptight and ready to fight Riff bursts into song about the loyalty of members and how being a jet is your life the other members join in.whilst performing this song they use props as railings and see-saws to create a setting for each piece.
The film then shows us Tony - the films main character for the first time. He left the Jets gang and the petty gang warfare years ago and is now finding out what a real man is. He is working hard to earn a living but strangely the Jets gang and his best friend Riff have a real hold over Tony and although he doesn't agree with the rumble or the fights he gets roped in and agrees to go to the Dance where they will organise a meet with the Sharks. Little does he know at the dance he will gain more than he bargained for. Tony is then left alone on the back alley finishing up at work, he bursts out into song because he feels his dreams will become true about something coming to change his life for the better. He sings about hope and wishing for an answer and who knows when it will happen. The choreography for this piece is fairly basic No extravagant leaps or turns unlike the majority of the songs and routines so far however the movement is an over exaggeration of any normal movement that any ordinary person would complete when thinking about hope and the future. This again is a reflection of the choreographer's over exaggeration of every tiny detail.
We then Meet our Leading Lady Maria working in the dress shop with her close friend Anita - Her brother Bernardo's girlfriend.They are discussing the local dance at the gym later that evening and what they are going to wear. Maria clearly wants to act more grown up as she asks for the neckline on her dress to be lowered- This is much like the Young Juliet in Macmillan's version of the ballet , the dance in his piece is Representative of Juliet coming to age and growing into a woman. However Bernardo has other ideas for his younger sister he has arranged for her to start seeing Chino another member of the sharks gang. Much like Juliet's parents in Romeo and Juliet with her arranged marriage to Paris. And Maria much like Juliet is reluctant to be involved within any pre- arrangements within their love lives. Both leading Ladies wish to live the dream life and fall in love almost like a fairytale - Only in both cases it was not meant to be.
We then see the Jets at the dance with all of their partners Showing again many different dance styles all rolled into one. The sharks Then enter again using the Spanish language which shows a cultural or even a divide based on nationality. It seems although Bernardo and his gang are happy to be living in America they like to continue to use their own language as it separates them from their rivals and makes them stand out more.
The Jets obviously on seeing the sharks stop in their tracks and the opposing gangs group together as if to cause a fight - again this is a clear divide in the two different groups of people. All of the characters are made to form two circles by the dance organiser - boys on the outside and girls on the inside. Riff and Bernardo after a large dose of reluctance lead their gangs to comply. As the music comes to an end and males and females are faced with a partner from the rival gang - all of the characters involved quickly grab their partners and burst into a Mambo dance off.
Within this scene we can see a clear Latin influence on the sharks dance as opposed to the more traditional moves that are used by the jets gang. The music used reflects the different dance styles as it does emotion within the original romeo and Juliet by Kenneth Macmillan. as an example when the female members of the sharks gang begin to dance on their own we hear trumpets and a real Latin flair to the music - a clear change which again hints at the cultural divide between the two gangs.
Across the dance floor amongst the madness of the Gym mambo dance off Tony and Maria catch one another's eyes. Everything surrounding them goes blurry as if the only thing going on in the world was the look that is exchanged between the two of them. they then dance together whilst gazing into one anothers eyes.
They then exchange a kiss which causes an instant reaction from both of the gangs especially the overprotective older brother Bernardo. Maria glances longingly after tony whilst being whisked away by Chino.After Maria has been begrudgingly escorted off of the premises Riff and Bernardo decide to arrange a war council for later that night at Doc''s candy store - a local hangout for the Jets.
Tony however blissfully unaware of all the commotion that is about to happen as he is desperately longing for Maria he then begins to sing about her. This is a typical aspect of musical theatre whenever the characters feel strongly about something either in a positive or negative way they burst into song. He uses again some very dramatic arm and body movements to express his emotion. This seems to be a clear theme within Jerome Robbins choreography that all of the movements are extremely exaggerated as if a;; of his characters were performing a mime.
The next scene is set in Maria's bedroom where she is having a serious telling off by her older brother Bernardo before he exits to meet the rest of the Sharks up on the roof. This like several other scenes has no real choreography within it although the dancers reactions can some times come over as fairly overwhelming for the audience, but then I guess this is part of the general ideas musical theatre is based on Over eccentuating every movement feeling and emotion to manipulate the audience into understanding what really goes on behind closed doors.
We then see all of the members of the peurto rican gang on the roof top of their appartment building and we then hear them perfomr the famous "America". This song is about the sharks comparing america to their home.The women see the potential of living in america howvere the men can see straight through it and see the discrimination they are all subject to on a daily basis. The routine that they perfomr seems highly technical with fast spanish footwork, jumps, high kicks, lifts and clapping out beats. The males then leave to meet the Jets at the war council.
We then cut to Tony searching for Maria and he meets her on her fire escape the modern equivalent to Juliets balcony scene. an extremely romantic setting where the two youngsters fall in love for opne another. The two lovers come together - a hugh risk for both of them. Together they then sing "tonight", a song about being true to one another for eternity. Again much like at the dance the surrounding are blurs as if they are the only two people living in their own perfect world.
We can hear Marias father calling her from within the house and Tony has to leave. They have one final embrace and confess their love for one another and set about planning their next meeting. They bid one another goodnight and tony dissapears down the alley into the darkness.
we then flit to outside Doc's candy store where the Jets are waiting for the war council. You hear the distinct whistle of the sharks before one by one they enter the store. Riff and bernardo sit at opposite sides of the table and arrange the rumble and the terms - a clear recipe for disaster. The openly throw abuse and racial comments at one another Before they agree to make it a fair fist fight rather than using any weapons.
The police officers then return and much like at the start of the film both gangs put on a huge farce in order to fight their commen hatred for the police. as the sharks are forced to leave they whistle the the national anthem.
Maria is then sat in the dress shop where she works , trying numerous hats on in an attempt to doll herself up ready for metting Tony then she begins to sing "I feel pretty" The other ladies that work in the shop leavee as Anita has to lock up with Maria where she informs her of the rumble. Tony then enters much to Anitas shock. Maria pleads Anita to keep it a secret and for tony to go and stop the rumble. Once anita leaves the two young lovers are left alone they use manakins to impersonate their family members so they can introduce one another. They plan and then carry out an imaginary wedding in the shop. After the moment of madness where it all seems like it could be perfect you see a sudden look of realisation come across the couples faces as they know it may never happen.
The film then cuts to the jets in their journey to the rumble. Arming themselves as well as the sharks. The film cuts between the two gangs, tony, anita and Maria all doing completely different things leading upto the rumble and all singing different versions of the song "tonight"
We then arrive under the Highway the agreed spot for the rumble both gangs enter ready to fight. Bernardo and Ice begin to fight but tony arrives to put a stop to it all. Riff then overpowers tony and hits Bernardo and due to the the anger both of them pull out flick knives. Bernardo then lunges and stabs Riff which enfuriates Tony who then avenges his non related brother by in turn stabbing Bernardo. A huge fight brakes out between all the members of the opposing gangs stopped by the sound of sirens the lads all scatter and flee from the police.
We then return to see Maria waiting on the roof top waiting for Tony to return. She then repeats the dance from the gym when she first met tony. We then see Chino run through the door that enters on to the roof top - he brings the bad news that Bernardo is dead and Her Love Tony was the one who killed him. She is completely distrought and she prays that tony did not do it. Tony then enters and she shouts "killer" at him whilst he is trying to explain.
then we see all the members of the Jets gang hiding and running away from the Police . They all meet back up and discuss having another fight to avenge the death of their Leader Riff. They plan to act normal on the streets so the police will not suspect they were involved in the deadly fight.
Chino is searching all over for Tonyu armed with a gun so the Jets decide to split up and search for him before Chino finds him. However tony is in bed with Maria , They discuss a plan to run away together much like part if the story line within Romeo and Juliet where the two lovers plan to run away from their fueding families.Tony then has to leave as Anita comes to the door.After tony has left anita and maria then argue as Anita hates tony for Killing Bernardo . Maria then declares her love for Tony before they are interupted by the police officer banging at the door.
The officer asks if they know anything about the rumble and maria is detained for questioning and she begs Anita to go and meet Tony at Doc's store as she cannot get there herself.
Upon arriving at the Candy Store the Jets are already in there waiting and planning how to find chino and protect tony who is hid in the basement. Anita enters and is threatened and attacked by the members of the jets gang. This section is very cleverly choreographed the fight again is extremely exaggerated however it looks realistic when added with the acting skills of all of the present cast members. After being hit and attacked in fury Anita tells the Jets That Maria is dead which comes as a real shock to tony and the gang. Tony then flees the store yelling Chino's name for all to hear wishing he would kill him too.
Tony then runs to the playground where to cometogether for one last desperate embrace but at this point Chino shoots Tony dead.Mary and tony sing to one another one last time choosing to sing their shared love song " somewhere" .Maria furious with everyone present distraughtly blames them all for the death and blood shed that has been caused and takes the gun and puts it to her head. The jets then carry away Tony's body leaving Maria on the floor crying her heart out for the death of her beloved. The story ends here much like the tragic ending to Romeo and Juliet - although maria is still alive in person I beleve she will die on the inside as she does no longer want to live without Tony.
