Talk:West Side Story

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Could someone maybe add a section on the plot?

Contents

[edit] South Park - Tonight Parody?

in the animated motion picture "southpark - bigger, longer, uncut" there is a parody of "tonight". perhaps this should be mentioned? - musschrott

Go for it! Ellsworth 21:21, 23 Apr 2005 (UTC)
I'd definitely agree that there's a similarity, and I'm sure the writers were thinking of the song from West Side Story, but it should be noted that the form of *both* songs - Several characters singing different songs, spilling their hopes to the audience - is a popular way to close the first act of many musical theater or operatic shows. If I were more knowledgable in opera, I could give you better examples, but you can find similar songs in Les Miserables and in The Producers, and I think you could even make a case for Making Christmas, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, approaching these in tone. -MBlume 21:15, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Shook-Up Generation

It should be noted that much of the research for West Side Story came out of the book, The Shook-Up Generation. This book, by Harrison Salisbury, is an inside exposé on juvenile delinquency in the 1950's. Many of the subjects (gang organization, war councils, etc.) from the musical show up in the book. It was required reading for the casts of the original Broadway run, and, as an actor, I find it highly valuable in terms of character development. --Theaterfreak64

P.S. In fact, this book came out more than a year after West Side Story opened on Broadway and even describes the play as a romanticized view of gang life. Difficult to see how the cast could have referenced this work, since it didn't yet exist. The movie cast may have but the cast of the play? Impossible.

Brian Dalen —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 4.255.199.248 (talk) 08:10, 1 Jan, 2006 (UTC).

You are correct. I was somewhat surprised when I read that in the book, heh. My director described it as I did, anyway, way back when I in 'West Side Story'. The only possibility is that there is more than one edition of the book. Also, there was more than one Broadway cast, as the show ran for quite a long time. -Theaterfreak64 03:47, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Plot: Was Anita nearly raped?

  • I may be wrong but I was under the impression that the Jets did more than just taunt Anita, I thought they almost raped her and was stopped by Doc. Am I incorrect? GracieLizzie 16:07, 1 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism not noticed

I just reverted this little bit of vandalism. It went unnoticed for several weeks! -- Samuel Wantman 09:27, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Categorization

This article is categorized as a "Broadway opera." I believe that it falls squarely and completely within the musical genre. If nobody is opposed to me moving it into the Broadway musical category within two weeks, I'm going to move it. Please leave your comments here.--Cassmus 05:14, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

Well, by some strict definitions of opera, it is considered such--the plot is advanced by the music--and it requires highly-trained singers with excellent technique for such numbers as the trio and double chorus for "Tonight." It is not through-sung (every verbal exchange is sung--that is, there is non-musical dialogue) but it comes close ("Oh no, Anita, no/You should know better/You were in love/Or so you said.") And the concert is sometimes performed by opera companies. That said, I would consider it an operatic/balletic (again, the dance advances the plot) musical. Like "The Most Happy Fella," WSS has always been difficult to categorize. 64.132.218.4 17:20, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm still not convinced that the show classifies as an opera. You do need highly trained singers for a production--but only two or three (for the parts of Tony, Maria, and possibly Anita). The music for all of the other parts, though, never comes close to being operatic. The production does not come close to being "through-sung." About 65% of the show is sung, which is not more than most other Broadway musicals and not to the level of opera. Also, music and dance do not advance the plot in any more than shows that are distinctly "musicals" (such as Oklahoma!). Is there a blurring between genres? Of course. However, West Side Story does not fall into that limbo area the way that The Phantom of the Opera, Candide, or Show Boat do.--Cassmus 20:06, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

FYI, I've nominated Category:Broadway operas for deletion. -- Samuel Wantman 07:07, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

I would not categorize WSS as a Broadway opera. If that was the case, then you could say that 70% of musicals are Broadway operas. The Woman in White has duets and trios...but that dosen't make it an opera. La Cage aux Folles has duets, and requires very trained singers....but that doesn't make it an opera. I did not spot any operatic techniques in the score. And as for I Have A Love/No, Anita No!....well, Evita and Rent are almost entirely sung-through, but they aren't operas. And there was LOTS of dialogue in WSS. WSS is probably only performed because Leonard Bernstein is a celebrated classical musician. However, I wouldn't delete the whole category....there is a wide range of operatic musicals, like Sweeney Todd, Candide, Aspects of Love....etc -[Pamina]

[edit] Plot: A Boy Like That- Maria "making love"?

It didn't actually occur to me that Maria and Tony were "making love." Is that actually true?

[edit] Influences?

Duke Ellington's memior "Music Is My Mistriss" claims that the original Broadway production of West Side Story appropriated the set design (possibly other things) from the musical "Jump for Joy" (for which Ellington wrote music).

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