Westside Story

Westside Story

Updated with a new "bicultural" twist

HATED IT!!! I was so disappointed in the new Westside Story show I saw on Sunday night at the Segrestrom Performing Arts Center. First most of what the Shark gang say to one another was in Spanish. A lot of the dialogue between the Puerto Rican group is in Spanish. If I had not just seen this movie about 5 months ago, I wouldn't have known what the heck was going on. If I wanted to see a play in Spanish I would have gone to a different venue. Then, they changed the "I Feel Pretty" song from in the bridal shop to in Maria's bedroom right after the big gang fight and the two boys are killed. AWKWARD, doesn't fit at all. To add salt to the wound, the girls sing only the chorus in English and all the other words are in Spanish. WHAT!!! I was really looking forward to this song, as my aunt used to sing it to me when I was little. Bummer, way to ruin a great song that everyone was looking forward too. Tony's voice was average at best. I was also disappointed in the choreography for the scene in which the boys are singing about Officer Krupke. They are pretending to masterbate and hump each other. Oh, that makes the play so up to date and relevant - NOT! I was offended. I have to blame the director, David Saint and choreographer, Joey McKneeley.

I was not the only person to feel this way. As we were leaving, everyone was confused as to what they just saw. NO ONE appreciated the fact that it was half in spanish and half in English. This is the first time I have ever felt that I wanted my money back. I can't believe I paid good money to see this trash.