Theres straight dialogue in west side story, but the real emotion gets expressed in song. Summary read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. Romeo and juliet vs west side story freebooksummary. Inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, west side story takes shakespeares starcrossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of new york citys west side in the 1950s. Richard rodgers, the composer of south pacific, wrote over 40 musicals throughout his career, all of which featured on broadway. What is the full character analysis of maria in west side. West side story character analysis freebooksummary.
Maria picks up chinos gun and blames both sides for the hate and violence that seems to have wiped out a significant chunk of the cast. Its exciting, sophisticated score by leonard bernstein is often considered broadways finest, its songs a part of the nations musical heritage. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. Bernsteins west side story is a revolutionary piece of music for the american theatre. Tonys dreaminess, anitas sultriness, marias innocence, bernardos bitternesstheyre all there. West side story is a beautifullymounted, impressive, emotionridden and violent musical which, in its stark approach to a raging social problem and realism of unfoldment, may set a p. The leader of the first ones decided on the next dance to challenge bernardo, the leader of the second. The 1957 musical west side story was a collaboration among composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, and choreographer jerome robbins. On the contrary, the boys are singing about wanting to go back to puerto rico. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words bartleby. Anybodys is a tomboy and often tags along with the jets even though most of them, especially arab and baby john, dont like her much. Read romeo and juliet here, with sideby read romeo and juliet. They had to continue to be edgier in order to survive.
Dec 05, 2011 video by cj penido narration by ben drennan i made this video for my final project for my theatre class. Im a film major, so i thought i might as well use that to my advantage. Maria is a teenage girl who has moved to the upper west side of new york city from puerto rico. West side story was the first film to win the best picture academy award for. The infamous poison boot west side story story retold with award winning costumes and flawless acting. Other subjects can kanye west s tweets be explained by the alchemist. Using evidence from the characters sympathetic what implications does americanness mean to his. The original text plus a sidebyside modern translation of every shakespeare play. West side story summary and study guide supersummary.
Plot summary for west side story 1961, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Analysis west side story s somewhere published on 22nd october 2015 the film musical, west side story, 1961 is a film adaptation of the 1957 broadway musical of the same name, and the story itself is a modern adaptation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet, a timeless love story that is here placed in the contemporary setting of n. Read a character analysis of juliet, plot summary, and important quotes. I wanted to learn how the puerto ricans coped with the racism and. Weeks before tony and maria found each other, another jet and another shark fell in love. Great art borrows from the past and gives to the future.
The sparknotes blog story, all of these things share a common goal of forming a single spirit, which is evidently what kanye believes is the bottom line. Jets and sharks alike get to own what goes down in west side story. When they first conceived the show in 1949, robbins, bernstein and laurents set their story on the east side of manhattan, and gave it the working title east side story. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that ancient grudges are no match for true love. Aug 02, 2016 scene 4751 west side story, 1961 we do not own this footage. Four dances from west side story by leonard bernstein. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. Video by cj penido narration by ben drennan i made this video for my final project for my theatre class.
Highlighting the talents of a young ensemble cast, west side story has found popularity in schools as well as professional theatres throughout the world. Five fast facts winner of 10 academy awards soundtrack was no 1 on the billboard charts for 54 weeks 94% on rotten tomatoes based on romeo and juliet, which is based on a poem by arthur brooke called the tragic historye of romeus and juliet, which is based on a poem by the roman poet ovid called pyramus and thisbe actors worked over 16. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Actionanybodys west side story 2 arabbaby john west side story 2 harry styleslouis tomlinson 1. Asked in drama and acting, musical movies, west side story what is the third gang in west side story. What do you think the musical says about american national identity. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of west side story. The authors purpose was to show the racial discrimination of the puerto ricans in new york during the 1950s. They planned to stage the conflict between rival catholic and jewish groups. Anybodys susan oakes is a minor character in west side story.
Other subjects can kanye wests tweets be explained by the alchemist. West side story is set in and around the 1950s on the west side of manhattan, new york city. Sharks start the fight when they jump baby john, one of the most developed characters. In looking at the story, we will also examine the songs and characters and learn a bit about.
So like south pacific, west side story can be considered an opera in parts, and musical theatre in others. The film is set in the rough neighborhood of lincoln square on the west side of manhattan during the summer of 1957. This wardrobe plot indicates our interpretation of the costume needs of the production. Whenever i see a movie or stage production of a play, i am always interested to read the actual book to have a different perspective on the characters and overall plot. In particular, youll need at least a basic understanding of key areas, motives, and intervals. For the movie version, the original poster boasted, the screen achieves one of the great entertainments in the history of motion pictures, while rerelease trailers proclaimed, unlike other classics, west side story grows younger. West side story and the american idea of getting along. West side story, american musical film, released in 1961, that was inspired by shakespeares romeo and juliet. But does the composers analysis have any bearing on how we perceive the work. West side story is a modern version of shakespeares classic love story that ended in tragedy. Therefore, one way to learn more about works of art is to compare and contrast them. Act i summary scene one begins with the prologue, which is halfdanced, halfmimed with occasional phrases of dialogue 1.
The story follows the rise and fall of a romance set against cultural tension and gang violence in 1950s new york. West side story has an incredibly complex score and therefore any worthwhile discussion of this music is going to require some prior knowledge of musical forms, terminology, and traditions. Film music analysis west side storys somewhere matt. Peter n the song america is sung by the puerto rican sharks. It takes the same theme as shakespeares, romeo and juliet, in that it is about two lovers whose relationship is not accepted by others because of conflicting backgrounds.
After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. It is a classic love story about tony, who is a member of the jets, who falls in love with maria, who is the sister of a member of a rival gang called the sharks. West side story plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. There is palpable tension in the air as two gangs vie for dominance of the area.
Once more, the clan of the montagues are at odds with the capulets. West side story was first presented at the winter garden, new york city, september 26, 1957, and at her majestys theatre, london, on december 12, 1958 with the following cast. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Get an answer for what is the full character analysis of maria in west side story. You can find out everything you want to know about the characters. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
Riff the leader george chakiris tony his friend don mckay action eddie roll arab tony mordente baby john ed verso snowboy. The scherzo is a lighthearted, carefree movement that comes from the dream ballet of the musical, in which tony imagines a world. Essay about analysis of west side story 1161 words. He has a girlfriend, anita, who maria is friends with and looks up to. The fullydanced prolog shows the tension built up between the jets and the sharks two rival gangs in new yorks upper west side. In this lesson, we will explore west side story, a musical written by composer leonard bernstein. The differences in some plot elements make each tragedy its own, but the similarities make them one. Anonymous period 8 11514 film west side story analysis west side story is an adaption of a play written by arthur laurents, and remade into a film, directed by robert wise and jerome robbins. West side story synopsis north shore music theatre.
Costumes outlined are in standard adult sizes extremely large or small sizes may not be available. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet. On a hot late1950s summer in new yorks upper west side, william shakespeares timeless story of romeo and juliet 1968 comes to life, as a fierce enmity between two antagonistic street gangs paves the way for heartbreak and tragedy. Her older brother bernardo is the leader of the puerto rican gang, the sharks. The jets, led by riff, have claimed the territory onstage. Author and authors purpose the author of west side story is aurthur laurents. Aug 23, 2018 west side story was originally east side story. Consider the events seem like acts of new york city gangs fulfill. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city.
Upper west side, new york, 1950s, during the last days of summer. In the midst of the deepseated rivalry between the puerto rican gang, the sharks, and the white gang, the jets, maria and tony discover that. West side story was directed and choreographed by the innovative jerome robbins, who stated in an added feature presentation in the 2003 dvd release that he had been interested in creating a contemporary version of william shakespeares romeo and juliet since the late 1940s and that arthur laurents, the shows writer, and composer leonard. The play romeo and juliet by william shakespeare was written around the year 1595. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Just as romeo and juliet are born to rival families, tony and maria are associated with rival gangs. West side story questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on west side story.
The girls who sing in this song are singing about how much they hate puerto rico and love america. The rivalry between the gangs is in place from the beginning, but it reaches a fever pitch when maria falls for tony, the founder of the jets, at a local dance. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. First performed around 1596, romeo and juliet has been adapted as a ballet, an opera, the musical west side story, and a dozen films. Exit west summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Context the creation of west side story was an extended process, involving decades of work, long periods of drought, and the collaboration of four of american musical theatres greatest standalone talents. Because it is set in 1950s new york city the scenes, characters, and plot have their own interpretations. But we do admit a certain sympathy for bernardo, who we see in the beginning as getting hassled by the jets for no reason. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments, and certainly its street gangs at war one puerto rican, one the descendants of european immigrants seem touchingly innocent compared to contemporary reality. Hes walking along, minding his own business, and the jets skunk him.
West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet. West side story characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. The juliet in this interpretation of shakespeares romantic tragedy is maria. The throughcomposed score and lyrics are used to portray different characters and their cultures, the rivalry between the jets and sharks, and the emotions felt as the story progresses. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Maria is the younger sister of bernardo, the leader. A summary of west side story 378 words 123 help me. West side story s theme is centered on the struggles of two group. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities.
Four dances from west side story features some of the highlights of these dance sequences transcribed for band. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis whale rider. Comparing tonight with maria both from west side story tonight also known as balcony scene tony and maria sing together. Shakespeare original in romeo and how is the musical makes the role of west side story, does west side story choose a 1950s audience. How does west side story question the idea of what it means to be an american. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter. She falls in love with tony and finds herself at the center of the violent conflict between the two gangs. This allows you to see the works as individual parts of a larger whole. The nurse lived in the house of capulet and was juliets maidservant and closest friend, and one of the few people who knew about juliets secret marriage to romeo. The scene illustrates the tense rivalry between two gangs. The jets are boys who were born in america, but have polish roots.
Always mocking anybodys for revenge chino demonstrates how street wars function. Analysis of west side story west side story came out in 1961 as a melodramatic musical that took place in new york. Inspired by the timeless story of romeo and juliet, west side story takes shakespeares starcrossed lovers, and places them in the vibrant battleground of new york city s west side in the 1950s. It is a tale of two rival gangs, which despises the other in a vicious circle of hate. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers. West side story 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. His use of the tritone in particular changed the dynamic for composers of musical theatre. And unlike the typical broadway musical of the 1950s and before, west side story does not offer audiences a happy ending.
He is, without a doubt, a composer of musical theatre. West side story presents a modern retelling of shakespeares romeo and juliet, the classic tale of two young lovers caught on the wrong sides of a dangerous feud. Tony used to be the leader of the gang known as the jets, but hes put that life behind him and found a. West side story is the musical adaptation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet. It is intended to provide you with required costume changes and a feeling of the costume styles. West side story is a classic american musical based on the classic story romeo and juliet. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important.
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