After a 29-year hiatus, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “West Side Story” has returned to Broadway yesterday to a packed house and to mostly positive reviews. Critics from across the Broadway sector had their say about the direction the musical has taken under 91-year old producer (and original creator of the book), Arthur Laurents.

The show revolves around doomed lovers Tony and Maria, caught in the middle of a clash between the Jets, a self-styled Anglo gang, and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang. The 1957 musical, which was made into a film in 1961 starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno, features such classic songs as “Tonight,” “Somewhere” and “I Feel Pretty.”

Some snip-its from reviewers follow:

David Rooney of Variety :”It’s rewarding to report that after nearly three decades’ absence from Broadway, this masterwork has been given the revival it deserves. Under the knowing direction of Arthur Laurents, the 1957 show remains both a brilliant evocation of its period and a timeless tragedy of disharmony and hate.”

Melissa Rose Bernardo of Entertainment Weekly calls it an “uneven but enjoyable revival”, saying “whenever Scaglione or Olivo (Tony and Maria) are on stage the show kicks into gear.”

Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune calls this a “mostly successful revival.” “It retains the heart, soul and original moves and sounds of a theatrical masterpiece…. And yet this new production also radically updates and rejuvenates the show’s social milieu.”

If you’re in New York and in the mood to see one of Broadway’s great and memorable shows, grab some broadway tickets and enjoy West Side Story.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 12:49 pm and is filed under broadway tickets online. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.