Lawlessness threatens to turn heart of Athens into no-go zone

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‘West Side Story’ This modern ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has stood test of time BY KATERINA VOUSSOURA It is a love story that sets out to overcome hatred, prejudice and violence. The legendary musical “West Side Story” is the fruit of the collaboration of four great artists. It is currently being staged at Athens’s Badminton Theater until September 29, as part of a world tour celebrating the 50year anniversary of its premiere in New York. This modern telling of “Romeo and Juliet,” set against the backdrop of New York City gang feuds, premiered at New York’s Winter Garden Theater in September 1957. Conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, the award-winning innovative choreographer who also served as ballet master of the New York City Ballet, “West Side Story” features music written by Leonard Bernstein. Composer, pianist and maestro Bernstein was musical director of the New Tragic lovers Maria and Tony enjoy a tender tete-a-tete. 24 ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 THE EVENT The legendary musical is currently in Athens, celebrating the 50-year anniversary of its premiere York City Symphony Orchestra and then the New York Philharmonic, of which he also became principal conductor. Tony award-winning writer and playwright Arthur Laurents, who wrote the script for “West Side Story,” has written numerous plays and musicals and is also a director. The lyrics are by composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, a seven- time Tony award-winner, as well as a Pulitzer Prize recipient. Set on the Upper West Side of New York in the 1950s, Tony and Maria, two young people who belong to rival gangs, fall in love. Tony is with the Jets, representing the “white” immigrants, while Maria is with the Sharks, the group of Puerto Rican immigrants. Unable to escape the violence between the two gangs, the love story takes a tragic turn but ends with the hope of reconciliation. In 1961, the story was transferred to the big screen, with a memorable performance by Natalie Wood as Maria, who co-starred alongside Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno and George Tsakiris. The film went on to win an astounding 10 Academy Awards, including that of Best Picture, Best Director (for Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins), as well as Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role (Tsakiris and Moreno respectively). Only a young cast can co The production currently being staged at the Badminton Theater is the only one entitled to be called an “original” revival, because it has the full permission of the original creative artists. The anniversary production is directed by Joey McKneely, a former student and close collaborator of Robbins’s, who remained true to the original direction. McKneely made his debut as a choreographer on Broadway with Jerry Zaks’s “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” which was nominated for three awards. He has choreographed various Broadway and off-Broadway productions and was invited to direct “West Side Story” for Milan’s La Scala. At a press conference held in Athens in May, McKneely had pointed out the importance of a young cast. “We make sure we bring young people to the stage,” he said when he explained that only a young cast can convey the SHOW INFO Performances are held daily except Tuesdays, starting at 9 p.m. with additional shows at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.Tickets can be purchased at the Badminton Theater box office (Goudi Military Park, tel 211.108.6024), at Virgin Megastores (7-9 Stadiou, Syntagma Square and at The Mall in Maroussi) as well as at Ticketnet offices (46 Kifissias, Ambelokipi, tel 210.884.0600, www.ticketnet.gr). Ticket prices range from 30 euros (25 euros for students) to 90 euros. There are special offers for the 4 p.m. weekend shows as well as Sunday evening shows, with prices starting from 20 euros (15 for students) to 80 euros.
onvey the musical’s freshness musical’s energy. He had added that the feeling of freshness is essential to the show, because it is all about “bringing it to the next generation.” Three of the leading characters – Scott Sussman who plays Tony, Elisa Cordova who plays Maria and Lana Gordon, the feisty Anita – were present at a recent press conference at the Badminton Theater, along with mu- Supreme talent The heroes are ‘the three most important people who can do the show at this time’ sical supervisor Donald Chan. Chan introduced the three performers as “the three most important people who can do the show at this time,” explaining that the auditions were grueling. “We auditioned maybe 100 Marias, 100 Tonys and 100 Anitas, as well as 250 male dancers and another 250 female dancers,” he said, adding that perhaps there were even more. Michalis Adam, the head of Adam Productions – the company which has brought the production to the Greek capital – speaking about his own experience with the production, said that the two groups of dancers acting as the gang members of the Jets and Sharks don’t mingle with each other in their free time in order to maintain the feelings of hatred and rivalry as they are portrayed in the show. This production has been traveling around the world since 2007. So far it has been staged in Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich and Vienna, among ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 THE EVENT other places. It just finished a twomonth sold-out run at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theater, where it drew rave reviews from the British press. Luke Jennings wrote on July 27 in The Observer that “if you buy one theater ticket this summer, make it this one,” while Debra Craine wrote of an “excellent ensemble cast” in The Times, on July 28. ‘It is too relevant’ Still touching audiences of all ages worldwide Excited about the show and refreshingly vibrant, the show’s three leading performers joined musical supervisor and principal conductor Donald Chan for an interview with Athens Plus on the sidelines of the press conference. A professional singer since the age of 14, Scott Sussman studied music at Chicago’s Northwestern University. He has an acting background as well, while his career further features a stint as a stand-up comedian. Chilean- American Elisa Cordova has received operatic training and has interpreted, among other parts, Norina in “Don Pasquale,” Despina in “Cosi fan tutte” and Adele in “Die Fledermaus.” Connecticut-born Lana Gordon studied at New York’s Alvin Ailey Dance School and has performed leading roles in “The Lion King” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Maestro and composer Donald Chan has conducted numerous major musical productions. He was musical director of the St Louis Municipal Opera for 12 years and is the most experienced conductor of “West Side Story” since he has been working on it for more than 20 years. Timelessness ‘The show was crafted in a way that made it ahead of its time. It still hits you’ Society has changed a lot since the musical’s premiere in 1957, yet when we watch it today, it feels that not a single day has passed. Why is that? Chan: It is because it is too relevant. There is such an influx of violence today, in the UK, for instance, with teenagers getting stabbed. Many people came to see the performance in London. One night there was a group of not highly educated kids, like those portrayed in the musical, but you could see they were in awe of what happened on stage. Sussman: The show was crafted in a way that made it ahead of its time. It is like tapestry. It was so modern and dramatic in its time that it still hits you so deep. At a time when so much happens on screen – be it the computer or the TV – how does the audience respond to live entertainment on stage? Cordova: Anything live is exciting. There is an electricity to a live orchestra that a video could never capture. Sussman: Live theater will never die. Two shows are never exactly the same – the combination of the people is different and the audience is different, every time. There is always a magic. Tragic lovers Maria and Tony enjoy a tender tete-a-tete. Tell me more about the experience of touring with a production around the world. Gordon: You get to see great places and the audiences are so different. I love to tour and I love to see the world. Sussman: For me it is a wonderful experience, it is exciting, but it requires tremendous discipline. You have to take care of yourself and very often you don’t get to see or do a whole lot. My priority is maintaining the integrity of the show. How has the audience responded to “West Side Story” in the countries where you have staged it in so far? Cordova: There is response from across all ages. People come up to you and say, “You made me cry.” We can see we’ve touched the audience from 5-year-olds to any age. Chan: In Japan, it was interesting because they only showed their emotions once the show was over. They would just clap quietly, but then they came backstage to say hello. What about the film? Chan: The film differed from the authors’ opinions. Some think of it as the epitome of the show, but you should remember that the stage production came first and there are people who don’t know that. Sussman: As we travel, especially in Europe, we see that there are people who have seen the film and come to see the show expecting the same experience. They end up having an even deeper experience, because of the impact of live theater. 25
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Lawlessness threatens to turn heart of Athens into no-go zone

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