After interviewing the show’s director Jordan Murphy a few weeks ago, Her Campus Exeter had very high expectations for Footlights’ production of West Side Story in the Northcott theatre. Being one of the most popular musicals of all-time, it has been performed countless times all over the globe. Could a bunch of university students really pull it off?
The simple answer? Yes, yes they could.
Footlights’ production of West Side Story was the best student production I have seen since being at Exeter. Everything was professional, down to the tiniest detail: the costumes, the set, the lighting. The choreography was breathtaking, complemented by a fantastic orchestra. The dancers exhibited such poise and skill in the show’s array of demanding dance routines, such as the energetic and feisty Rumba, showing how versatile they were prepared to be.
West Side Story is incredibly sad, but a sad story isn’t enough to engage your emotions (I hadn’t cried in West Side Story until now). The chemistry between the two leads needs to be palpable – you have to believe the love story, as it evolves before your very eyes. And they hit the spot. The youthful spontaneity between Tony (Nick Kenchington) and Maria (Amy McIntosh) was so tangible and genuine that you couldn’t help but adore them, (and in my case sob uncontrollably in the finale.) The duets in particular, such as “Tonight” and “One Hand, One Heart”, showed off both the sensitivity and richness of their vocals. The casting was spot-on, and the connection between the two was so convincing, you’d have thought they were a couple off-stage too.
One of the highlights of the show had to be “America”. This classic number was fabulously executed with just the right amount of humour and sassiness from the female Sharks. An exceedingly strong performance from Vital Mazor, who portrayed Anita’s grittiness with such natural flair, stole the show.
The divide between the New York Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks was incredibly symbolic; from the costumes to the stage positioning. The ethnic tension and brutality between the two gangs was so convincing, and the fight scenes so brilliantly choreographed, that I found myself on more than one occasion on the edge of my seat. The tension was counteracted by moments of comedy such as “Gee, Office Krupke”, which was spot on. The perfectly timed musical sequence performed by the New York Jets had the audience in fits of laughter throughout. The energy of the performance seemed so effortless, leaving the audience yearning for more.
Having seen a professional touring production of West Side Story in Paris last year, I can say without a doubt that Footlights had the edge on it. I think Musical Theatre often gets a bad reputation for over-the-top acting, exaggerated vibrato, and characters breaking into song and dance at any given moment. But this wasn’t the case. Here we had each actor bringing a gritty and raw edge to their performance – there was depth, and authenticity to it. They completely removed any ounce of superficiality, conveying instead a sensitivity and vulnerability, which is crucial to a show like West Side Story. They managed to portray the “edgy” youth, whilst not looking like a bunch of amateurs on stage. There were moments when I forgot entirely that I was watching a student production, and thought I was at the West End.
You could have heard a pin drop; it was too hard not to be completely engrossed with what was unfolding on stage. The production had such a lively spirit to it, captured even in moments of absolute silence. A truly spectacular performance, setting an even higher standard for Footlights productions in the future.
Keep tuned for our review of EUTCo’s portrayal of the Pulizer Prize winning play August: Osage County- coming soon!
Photo Credits: Sam Loyd