Alright to start off, I must disagree with Norris Houghton. This is because I do not think that there is any winner between Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story. I believe that they are two separate masterpieces even though they share a similar story and as we discovered from our discussion in class, their is not one that is preferred by more people over the other. They are equally appreciated. Personally, I would rather see WSS simply because I am a sucker for the spectacle of the singing and dancing. I feel that it conveys strong emotion for me and I also appreciate the choreography and what not.
My favorite scene in WSS story is the rumble. Why?? Because it is boss. By this I mean that it is the part when everything comes together and has the most tension. As an audience member, I can remember being on the very edge of my seat and not knowing where to look. With all of the gang members, it is more visually impressive. I love the stage combat choreography that is required and I am so impressed when it does not look like choreography at all. The scene when Romeo and Paris are fighting in R + J leaves a little something to be desired for me. I just feel that the level of excitement and tension is only slightly raised from that of the rest of the show. Also, having only two people on stage feels a tiny bit bare because the focus is so stationary. Another reason why I feel that the rumble is so successful in my eyes, is that there is so much hype made about it during the course of WSS. Mr. Bernstein is pretty alright too which makes the scene that much better.
Watch the video it is the best thing you will ever do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJCGhwRF1u8
In WSS both rumbles are heightened to create the appropriate dramatic tension between the gangs. I agree that the fight between Paris and Romeo is a little lack-luster but that's because it's not the climax of the show. Where Tony is a victim of the gang wars, Romeo murders himself to follow Juliet, whom he believes to be dead. This is where the tension is created in the play. In Romeo and Juliet, the first fight (where Mercutio is slain by Tybalt so Romeo slays Tybalt) is more satisfactory as far as intensity.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen a professional production of Romeo and Juliet?
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