West Side Story

Stages have just finished, ummm… staging West Side Story at the Meralco Theater. West Side Story was starred by Karylle and Christian Bautista. It’s second to the best play I’ve watched all year. Considering I’ve only watched only two. The other play which I like better is the Ateneo Children’s Theater’s version of High School Musical.

First thing I noticed about the play was the set. The set and props were great. I’ve nothing but compliments for the people in charge of putting it up.

Then the play started… I went in to the theater knowing absolutely nothing about West Side Story apart from it being “Romeo and Juliet-ish” and that it starred Karylle. First scene was a fight scene and the scene ended with me concentrating hard before I can recognize which actor was part of which gang. The play was more “dancey” than I expected. I’ve nothing to compare it to but there were too much twirling, swirling, kicking and tip-toe-ing for my taste. After the play, I felt I needed to watch some sports or an action movie just to keep my testosterone level normal. But I can’t say their dancing was bad. There were just too much dancing. And when the girls in skirts were twirling around or kicking high, I can’t help but try to see if I can see up their skirts. It’s boyish but who could resist.

The acting was all right, except for right before the denouement when the actor playing Chino suddenly shot Tony. The actor moved so suddenly and shot a loud prop gun that it surprised the audience that it made them laugh. It ruined the feeling of the scene.

The singing was, different. The songs and music have been taken from the original play but the singing could’ve been better. Karylle has a very powerful voice and I feel that no one can sing a duet with her. She drowns out her partners’ voices, be it Christian or the other actors.

The worst part for me was after the play when some people were talking on the stage. It was supposed to be the last showing for the whole series. German Moreno gave a short speech of some kind and he asked the audience to give a standing ovation. On my part, if people liked it enough, they’ll stand up and applaud for it. It can’t be a forced standing ovation. Some people stood for some actors during the curtain call and that really should be enough.

All in all, I don’t regret watching the play. I probably won’t watch it again, but I don’t regret it. I may reconsider watching it again if Karylle asked me to. Not that she would but she might.