The Complimentary Pieces

In class we were discussing whether we preferred Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story. I believe that though there is a benefit in comparing the works, they are two completely different forms of telling a similar story and thus one is not better than the other; they are simply complementary.

One thing that I found interesting is that West Side Story happens to be a lot more specific when it comes to creating a world. Romeo and Juliet is set in 16th Century Verona; however it is easy to adapt and place this script in another location. There have been many productions that have done this, especially in modern times. A director's decision to do this could be based in the idea that it will either fortify a theme, help connect the audience with it, associate it to modern concepts, etc. This does not always work. For example, there was a production that reflected conflicts in the Middle East by making the Capulets and Montagues into Muslims and Jews. It has also inspired people to re-invent how the story is told. For example, when I mounted it, I had 8 actors play the various roles (roughly 25) and there has been a version where four Catholic schoolboys secretly play with the text as a way to explore their sexualities. This would not be possible with West Side Story. The gangs, the time period, the locations, and the characterizations are all very specific. This is due to the score, the script and the concept. There isn't anything wrong with this specificity, but it makes people know what to expect when seeing West Side Story. Audience members have expectations when seeing Shakespeare's work, but a surprise is welcome.

When it comes to theatricality, both versions are theatrical in their own respective way. Let's look at the song "Something's Coming." This is such an iconic song. In it, Tony expresses his prediction that he believes the unexpected will happen. He isn't certain and yet he is excited about it. This happens all before he meets Maria at the dance and after he has been convinced to go to the dance. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo says words that express this same emotion at the close to Act 1 Scene 4. He hasn't met Juliet yet at the Ball, but has been convinced to attend. He says:

I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night’s revels, and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the steerage of my course,
Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen. (106-113)

That poetry inspired the song. However, just because it inspired the song does not make either piece better than the other - they are two different mediums. As an actor, I would rather perform in Romeo and Juliet as I believe it allows the actor to let the text take them on an emotional roller coaster. There is excitement in performing the dances and songs in West Side Story, however I believe that the raw emotion is easier to play with in Shakespeare's text. Especially if as an actor one takes the time to observe the strong ground-working laid out for them to the most minute technical thing (ex. Romeo becomes better as speaking sonnets throughout the play). As an audience member, both shows are exhilarating and exciting in their own respective ways. As a student examining the pieces, I think it is best to note how they compliment each other and allow us to understand the other piece with greater capacity.