West Side Story by Newmarket Youth Theatre, Kings Theatre, Newmarket
New York comes to Newmarket's Kings Theatre this week for Newmarket Millennium Youth Theatre's production of the Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.
In just seven days, NMYT have put together a spectacular show filled to the brim, with an action packed show. Over 40 young people have combined to work brilliantly together, in a most professional staging of this amazing musical.
With Artistic Direction by Wallace Wareham, the story, basically, is of two opposing gangs in a run-down part of New York. The Jets and Sharks have an ongoing history of violent rivalry, with the inevitable tragic consequences.
It is fast moving, and Bernstein's music is loud and exciting, and loses nothing of its impact under Musical Direction and orchestration from Craig Sayers. There are some wonderful dance routines, with choreography in the more than capable hands of Andy Thorpe and Jessica Clifford.
As a mere member of the audience you can only sit and wonder at the energy and enthusiasm of these performers, and in particular the routine, 'America' from the girl Sharks - with Sinead Mathias as excellent as ever, as Anita, and Katy McCormick as Rosalia, who sings the most haunting, 'Somewhere'.
George Nolan, as Bernardo, the Shark leader is a powerful and formidable Shark leader, matched and rivalled brilliantly by Cameron Maguire as Riff, the Jet Leader.
Sam McCormick and Helen Woolf are an excellent combination as the star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, especially the Romeo and Juliet balcony song, 'Maria'. Luke Sidaway is a great peacemaking, Doc.
The whole company are so incredibly committed to the show and the storyline, and it would be impossible and unfair to start picking out the one or two exceptional names, apart from Hendrick Koopmans as Action, and his lead in 'Gee, Officer Krupke'. This is a vital number to lighten the darkening atmosphere of the story.
The memorable musical moments are, 'Something's coming', 'Cool', 'Tonight' (the Quintet), 'I feel pretty', and the unforgettable, 'One hand, one heart'.
All credit to Wallace Wareham for his own dedication, not only to this show, the set and the costumes, but to the wealth and talent of the young performers of the NMYT and all their shows, but to the audience for setting before them a wonderfully enjoyable evening.
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Weather for Newmarket
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
