West Side Story
Music by: Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim
Directed by: Ralf Milde
Book by: Arthur Laurents
January 25th 1997 -
Theater Krefeld
Krefeld, Germany
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Act 1
The scene opens on two rival New York street gangs: the Jets whose leader is Riff and whose members are American, and the Sharks whose leader is Bernardo and whose members are Puerto Rican. Because of the difference in backgrounds, there is much hostility and prejudice, and wars over territories.
One late afternoon Bernardo and the Sharks corner A-rab, a Jet member, and proceed to beat on him until the rest of the Jets arrive. A free-for-all breaks out and gets broken up by a big, goon-like cop, Krupke, and plainclothesman, Schrank. They advise the two groups to leave each other alone.
The Jets, determined to hold their turf, plan on a rumble against the Sharks. In counting up their available members they decide to enlist the help of Tony, a former member/founder who hasn't been with the gang for awhile. Leader Riff assures them that once someone is a Jet they are always loyal to the group: Jet Song.
When Riff finds Tony at the drugstore where he works, he asks Tony to join him at the dance to fight the Sharks. Tony reluctantly agrees, for Riff is like a brother, yet yearns for something different: Something's Coming. Tony meets Bernardo's sister, Maria, at the dance and realizes she is what he has been waiting for: Maria. He goes to Maria's home and climbs the fire escape to see her. The two express their feelings: Tonight.
The Sharks and their girls are in the street arguing about the virtues of Puerto Rico. When the boys leave to plan the War Council, the girls comment on Puerto Rico; Rosalia, fantasizing about the island's beauty, while Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, and the other girls prefer the USA: America.
The Jets are in the drugstore planning their rumble strategy despite Doc's comments on the pointlessness of fighting. He calls them hoodlums, which angers the boys, but Riff wisely counsels them to save their energy for the Sharks: Cool. Bernardo and the Sharks arrive at the drugstore to settle the details of the rumble. They agree to meet the next night, under the highway and prove which gang is best by a fist fight between each gang's best man.
Tony secretly meets Maria in the dress shop after she finishes work. Using dressmaker dummies to represent their families, they dramatize what their lives should be like. The mood becomes serious as they enact their make-believe wedding ceremony: One Hand, One Heart.
In various areas of the neighborhood, the Jets, Sharks, Anita, Maria and Tony prepare for the evening: Tonight- Reprise.The rumble begins with Bernardo and Diesel, the two best fighters, surrounded by the other gang members. They are interrupted by Tony who, keeping his promise to Maria, tries to stop the fight. Bernardo, recognizing him as the boy who danced with his sister, taunts Tony in an attempt to fight him. Riff seeing that Tony will not fight back, strikes out at Bernardo and both Riff and Bernardo pull knives. Tony draws Riff's attention away from the fight, which enables Bernardo to kill him. Enraged, Tony grabs Riff's switchblade and kills Bernardo. He stands there stunned as the gang members all begin fighting. The sound of police sirens drives everyone off but Tony stands staring at the two bodies and cries Maria's name. Anybodys, a tomboy who yearns to join the Jets, darts on and pulls him away as the cruiser lights comb the area
Act 2One late afternoon Bernardo and the Sharks corner A-rab, a Jet member, and proceed to beat on him until the rest of the Jets arrive. A free-for-all breaks out and gets broken up by a big, goon-like cop, Krupke, and plainclothesman, Schrank. They advise the two groups to leave each other alone.
The Jets, determined to hold their turf, plan on a rumble against the Sharks. In counting up their available members they decide to enlist the help of Tony, a former member/founder who hasn't been with the gang for awhile. Leader Riff assures them that once someone is a Jet they are always loyal to the group: Jet Song.
When Riff finds Tony at the drugstore where he works, he asks Tony to join him at the dance to fight the Sharks. Tony reluctantly agrees, for Riff is like a brother, yet yearns for something different: Something's Coming. Tony meets Bernardo's sister, Maria, at the dance and realizes she is what he has been waiting for: Maria. He goes to Maria's home and climbs the fire escape to see her. The two express their feelings: Tonight.
The Sharks and their girls are in the street arguing about the virtues of Puerto Rico. When the boys leave to plan the War Council, the girls comment on Puerto Rico; Rosalia, fantasizing about the island's beauty, while Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, and the other girls prefer the USA: America.
The Jets are in the drugstore planning their rumble strategy despite Doc's comments on the pointlessness of fighting. He calls them hoodlums, which angers the boys, but Riff wisely counsels them to save their energy for the Sharks: Cool. Bernardo and the Sharks arrive at the drugstore to settle the details of the rumble. They agree to meet the next night, under the highway and prove which gang is best by a fist fight between each gang's best man.
Tony secretly meets Maria in the dress shop after she finishes work. Using dressmaker dummies to represent their families, they dramatize what their lives should be like. The mood becomes serious as they enact their make-believe wedding ceremony: One Hand, One Heart.
In various areas of the neighborhood, the Jets, Sharks, Anita, Maria and Tony prepare for the evening: Tonight- Reprise.The rumble begins with Bernardo and Diesel, the two best fighters, surrounded by the other gang members. They are interrupted by Tony who, keeping his promise to Maria, tries to stop the fight. Bernardo, recognizing him as the boy who danced with his sister, taunts Tony in an attempt to fight him. Riff seeing that Tony will not fight back, strikes out at Bernardo and both Riff and Bernardo pull knives. Tony draws Riff's attention away from the fight, which enables Bernardo to kill him. Enraged, Tony grabs Riff's switchblade and kills Bernardo. He stands there stunned as the gang members all begin fighting. The sound of police sirens drives everyone off but Tony stands staring at the two bodies and cries Maria's name. Anybodys, a tomboy who yearns to join the Jets, darts on and pulls him away as the cruiser lights comb the area
As Act 2 begins, Rosalia and Consuelo, two Puerto Rican girls, are in Maria's bedroom, discussing what they will do after the Rumble when Maria announces that there will be no rumble and that she feels wonderful for it is her wedding night. The girls think she is crazy, I Feel Pretty, and warn her that one must get married before the wedding night. As Chino, her former Puerto Rican boyfriend, enters the girls leave. Chino tells her there has been a fight and Maria reveals she is worried about Tony. Chino tells her that Tony has killed Bernardo and slams the door leading to the parlor. He stops before leaving and picks up Bernardo's gun.
Tony enters through the bedroom window to tell Maria he has killed her brother. She pleads with him not to leave her and the two, in an imaginary dance sequence, visualize their utopian world. As an offstage voice sings, Somewhere, the walls of the apartment move off and the Sharks and Jets enter with their girls. Everyone dances happily together. The lights suddenly become harsh and the dream turns into the real nightmare with the re-enactment of the knife fight. At the end of the number they are back in the bedroom holding one another and finishing the song.
In an alley, the Jets, in hiding from Officer Krupke, comment on the officer and his treatment of them: Gee, Officer Krupke. Anybodys enters to tell them that Chino is out to get Tony and the gang spreads out to warn and protect Tony.
Anita enters Maria's room seeking comfort and discovers Tony has been there. She tells her that Tony is no good but Maria forces Anita to understand that her love for Tony is as great as Anita's for Bernardo: A Boy Like That/I Have A Love. Officer Schrank enters to question Maria, who asks Anita to deliver a message to the drugstore. When Anita arrives at the drugstore, the Jets, believing she is there to find Tony, push her around in a dramatically stylized dance, The Taunting, which is stopped by the arrival of Doc. Angry, Anita tells the Jets to tell Tony that Chino has shot Maria and storms out of the drugstore.
Doc goes into the cellar to give Tony money for his escape and informs Tony that Maria is dead. Stunned he runs out into the streets yelling for Chino to kill him. As he enters the street, he sees Maria and starts to her but Chino shoots him. Tony dies in Maria's arms and Maria, enraged and saddened by Tony's death, grabs the gun from Chino and threatens both Jets and Sharks with death. She collapses in tears but recovers herself and stretches out her arms to both gangs who gently carry Tony's body off.
(Taken from Musical Notes, by Carol Lucha-Burns)Tony enters through the bedroom window to tell Maria he has killed her brother. She pleads with him not to leave her and the two, in an imaginary dance sequence, visualize their utopian world. As an offstage voice sings, Somewhere, the walls of the apartment move off and the Sharks and Jets enter with their girls. Everyone dances happily together. The lights suddenly become harsh and the dream turns into the real nightmare with the re-enactment of the knife fight. At the end of the number they are back in the bedroom holding one another and finishing the song.
In an alley, the Jets, in hiding from Officer Krupke, comment on the officer and his treatment of them: Gee, Officer Krupke. Anybodys enters to tell them that Chino is out to get Tony and the gang spreads out to warn and protect Tony.
Anita enters Maria's room seeking comfort and discovers Tony has been there. She tells her that Tony is no good but Maria forces Anita to understand that her love for Tony is as great as Anita's for Bernardo: A Boy Like That/I Have A Love. Officer Schrank enters to question Maria, who asks Anita to deliver a message to the drugstore. When Anita arrives at the drugstore, the Jets, believing she is there to find Tony, push her around in a dramatically stylized dance, The Taunting, which is stopped by the arrival of Doc. Angry, Anita tells the Jets to tell Tony that Chino has shot Maria and storms out of the drugstore.
Doc goes into the cellar to give Tony money for his escape and informs Tony that Maria is dead. Stunned he runs out into the streets yelling for Chino to kill him. As he enters the street, he sees Maria and starts to her but Chino shoots him. Tony dies in Maria's arms and Maria, enraged and saddened by Tony's death, grabs the gun from Chino and threatens both Jets and Sharks with death. She collapses in tears but recovers herself and stretches out her arms to both gangs who gently carry Tony's body off.
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