12 / 32
12
ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
West Side Story
By Beth Steer
From the opening notes of the prologue,
Rebecca Clark’s production of
West Side
Story
crackles into life with an intensity and
a fierce energy that keeps the audience
enthralled. The rivalry between the Sharks
and the Jets is played out through Lisa
Elkins’ hugely effective choreography and
the breathtaking parkour sequences that
demonstrate both the physical skill and
emotional range of the cast.
The two warring factions are led
through the increasingly chaotic turf war by
Riff (in a mature and sensitive performance
by Charles Maddison) and Bernardo
(Louis Verschoyle bristling with energy
and frustration) who are both outstanding
as two young men trying to protect their
gangs and families whilst maintaining their
reputations. It is in the group scenes
such as the dance and the fight that this
production really comes alive with the
ensemble cast, and particularly Maximilian
Heil as Action, perfectly capturing the
energy and tension of Bernstein and
Sondheim’s classic musical.
It is into this frenzied environment
that the doomed lovers Tony and Maria
step. Their perfectly judged performances
provide moments of calm and stillness
as all around them crumbles. Sassy
Hammersley’s Maria is beautifully naive
and a perfect match for Vincent Moisy’s
quiet confidence and charm. Both leads
put in impressive vocal performances
(ably backed by the orchestra under Alex
Tester’s musical direction) and take the
audience with them on every step of
their journey from excited new love to
destructive rage and heartbreaking grief.
Based on Shakespeare’s
Romeo and
Juliet
, this is ultimately a play about
relationships and it is the bonds between
the characters - be they friends, relatives
or rivals - that gives this production such
heart. The agony felt by Tony as he is
torn between his old friendships and his
new love, and Maria’s touching insistence
that love can overcome division, left the
audience deeply moved. Some of the most
heartfelt moments in the production are
West Side Story
was performed in The
Hall from 18th – 21st November.
Previous schools of pupils mentioned
above: Charles Maddison,
Christ
Church Cathedral
; Louis Verschoyle,
Lambrook
; Maximilian Heil,
Cherwell
;
and Sassy Hammersley, Vincent Moisy
and Christina Kirkham,
The Dragon.
those between Maria and her confidante
Anita (played by Christina Kirkham) who
strikes the perfect balance between her
character’s funny and feisty turn in the
first act and her grief-stricken rage in
the second.
West Side Story
is a huge undertaking
for any group of pupils and this production
draws out the timeless themes of
poverty, immigration, identity, isolation
and community with skill and sensitivity.
The entire cast and crew deserve to be
immensely proud of this production that
fizzes with energy and heart from the first
second to the final bow.
Vincent Moisy as Tony and Sassy Hammersley as Maria