Theater Review
Audiences Captivated by
WRVP ‘West Side Story’

The entire village of Rochester, Vermont would scarcely be noticed at Port Authority if its entire population invaded New York City. So what makes their Theater Company, The White River Valley Players, think they can put on a successful version of the consummate New York musical, West Side story? The music is fantastic but unforgiving of weak voices and instruments, and if you clear that hurdle, you still have to face 18 different dance numbers, and set demands ranging from New York’s West Side streets and alleys to a drugstore, a bedroom, a bridal shop, and a cellar.

Well, grab your subway tokens or brave the daunting ride over Rochester mountain, because once again the auditorium of Rochester High School hosts inventive community theater at its finest. Practically everything about this show is superb, including the sets, the costumes, the orchestra, the choreography and dancing, and much of the acting. The show moves so quickly that it was impossible to applaud each of the special moments, but the audience was clearly captivated by the spectacle unfolding in front of them.

The magic begins the moment you enter the auditorium, with your fantastically designed play program in your hand. Dick Robson’s set portrays an intersection of streets, and its buildings tower over the stage, using creative angles and perspectives to avoid the flat quality of many stage dressings. Choreographer Karen Amirault and director Sandy Haas make sure that every square inch of the stage is explored, as each new dance and scene unfolds and displays something fresh and energetic. I was sitting right next to Rebbi Carleton, the set designer for Chandler’s Fourth of July shows, and no slouch herself when it comes to creativity, and by intermission, both of us were buzzing with the innovations we had seen.

"West Side Story" parallels the story of "Romeo and Juliet," updating a few of the characters and situations to fit New York’s West Side in the 1950’s. Instead of the Montagues and the Capulets, it’s two street gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. The Sharks are Puerto Rican, which introduces a marvelous and frightening undertone of racism into the story of two young lovers, one white and one Puerto Rican, who try to defy the hatred of their clans. Where the ultimate downfall of Romeo and Juliet can be laid on their adolescence, bigotry is more likely the culprit for Maria and Tony. The action covers a mere 30 hours, a trivial amount of time for such a majestic story of deep love and deeper enmity.

Leonard Bernstein wrote the music for the show, and many of its numbers have become hallmarks of contemporary music: "Tonight," "Maria," "America," "I Feel Pretty," and "Cool" are among them. Piero Bonamico as music director maintained a near-perfect balance between vocals and instruments, and had clearly prepared everyone well for handling Bernstein’s demanding rhythms and quirky note progressions.

It feels wrong to single out individual performers in this production, in part because the essence of any good community production transcends individual star efforts. And this is good, very good. Rest assured that each of the lead roles is well-cast. Also, shows put on by the WRVP are renowned in the Vermont theater world for the sheer number of enthusiastic volunteers who gather each year. Space simply does not allow for naming everyone who contributed to the special success of "West Side Story."

At the same time, it is a treat to sit back and watch friends we’ve known for years share their talents in new and different ways, and it is important for you to know who’s in the show. So we’ll throw a spotlight across the names of at least some of the faces you’ll see on stage. Andrea Maas and Kevin Chap play Maria and Tony. Adam Rosenberg leads the Jets, and Peter Riley the Sharks. Marianna Mujica plays the saucy Anita, girlfriend to Peter Riley’s character Bernardo. The Jets include Ferron Griffin, Don Crickard, Eric Holtz, Roy Kinsley, Bill Warren, and Paul Kimball. The Sharks are Matt Richardson, Jason Turk, Ross Laffan, Dean Blomquist, Wylie Griffin, and Trevor Smolen.

Sarah Chap, Emily Kimler, Molly Doria, Dakotah Doughty, Jenni Turk, Jenna Pelletier, and Justine Calnan play the Jet Girls, while the Shark Girls are Maria Zucca, Hannah Gephart, Alina Schenkman, Jenny Slater, Elaine Sanborn, Shannon Fifield, and Gabriela Riley.

Officer Krupke is Joe Schenkman, with David Marmor as the memorable "Doc." Greg Crawford plays Lieutenant Schrank, while Glad Hand is Robert Melik Finkle.

If you missed the Mud Season Talent Show at Chandler last weekend, you missed a genuine, quality celebration of the multiple gifts found in central Vermont. This weekend, you can make amends. "West Side Story" will be performed on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

By Charlie McMeekin