SouthFlorida.com | Teen Link South Florida

One by one, slender young men saunter onto a stage dimly lit by streetlight, striking stylized poses in the alleys, as pulsating, rhythmic music swells and builds, sweeping through the theatre. A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts' production of West Side Story was a heady and intense piece of high school theatre, from overture to finale.

West Side Story paints the picture of the battle for dominance in New York City's west side, pitting new immigrant against settled immigrant. A shocking show for its time, West Side Story was adapted from the text of Romeo and Juliet, and depicted subject matter unheard of in the theater--blatant gang warfare, overt ethnic intolerance, and dance plucked from the streets. With lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, dialogue by Arthur Laurents, and score by Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story has become a classic since its opening in 1957.

West Side Story's most laudable aspects lay in the cast's impressive dance ability and quick pickup of advanced stage combat technique. They truly grasped the concept of dance "warfare", with exciting fight scenes and tightly-knit ensemble work.

Tessa Assari, in her stage debut, made for a charming and fitting Maria. With a bell-like soprano voice, she gave a spellbinding dramatic performance in the second half of the show.

In the role of the fiery Anita, Marina Pires gave the most noteworthy and entertaining performance. Her significant development of character and deep expression shone during songs like "A Boy Like That" and the gripping "Taunting Scene". Other notable mentions and standouts include Derek Martin (Riff), Shayne Leighton (Rosalia), Shaun Fisher (Action), Douglas Widick (Officer Krupke), Megan Seeds (Velma), and Joey Bermudez (Baby John). More overall focus on the sweeping themes of the show and greater diction in the dialogue were needed throughout the production, but the engaging ensemble interactions quickly shone through these difficulties.

West Side Story's complex and workable set was a technical tour-de-force. A multistory cutout of a dirty New York City apartment area, the set included a working garage door, interior rooms viewed through lit windows, gang-inspired graffiti, muted streetlights, and hanging laundry. Great attention to detail was obvious in the construction and design of the set, done brilliantly by Bryce Cutler and crew. Costumes, constructed by students, created striking pictures onstage, emphasizing the enmity between social classes and ethnic backgrounds, complemented character traits, and did not hinder the cast in their dance work.

A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts' production of West Side Story was both touching and gripping, a true achievement for the cast and crew.