West Middle Earth Side Story - Discussion thread

[Grey_Wolf]

West Middle Earth Side Story - Discussion Thread

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Side_Story

Act 1
Prologue: The act begins with the gang leitmotifs established musically. The curtain rises. A conflict between two rival teenage gangs, the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, is enacted through dance. The tension between the gangs is quite visible. The boys are struggling for control of the neighborhood. Accented by police whistles and taunting phrases, the Prologue establishes the fierce rivalry between the two groups.

The Jets break off and celebrate themselves. ("Jet Song"). But Riff (the Jet gang leader) has a problem: he wants to get his friend, Tony, back into the gang. Riff convinces Tony to re-join the Jets at the neighborhood dance, where Riff's plan will be put into motion. Tony agrees out of a sense of loyalty to Riff, but expresses his unhappiness with his current life ("Something's Coming"). He feels himself growing away from the gang and envisions a different, better future.

Maria, the sister of the Shark leader, Bernardo, has only been in the United States for a short time. She works with Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend, in a bridal shop. Anita is making Maria a dress to wear to the neighborhood dance. Maria sees this dance as the official beginning of her life in this country. Like Tony, she is full of hope. Bernardo arrives with Chino, a quiet, intense member of the Sharks. Maria's family has selected Chino to be her future husband.

A social worker, Glad Hand, introduces the rival gang members and their girls; they dance sociably for about two minutes. Then a challenge dance erupts ("Mambo"). Tony and Maria, however, suddenly see one another. In a moment of romantic suspense, they dance together, oblivious to the tension around them. They fall in love. The romantic idyll is interrupted when an enraged Bernardo roughly pulls Maria from Tony's arms ("Maria"). Maria is sent home and Riff and Bernardo arrange a War Council at the local luncheonette, Doc's Drug Store, which is considered neutral ground. Tony finds Maria and serenades her outside her bedroom ("Tonight). Meanwhile, the Shark girls fawn over the differences between Puerto Rico and America ("America"). At Doc's, the Jets get antsy while waiting for the Sharks, but Riff tries to keep them calm ("Cool"). After a war council and an interruption by Lt. Schrank, they agree that Bernardo will fight Diesel

Tony meets Maria at the bridal shop, where they dream of their wedding ("One Hand, One Heart"). She begs Tony to stop the rumble and the violence. Tony, Maria, Anita, Bernardo (& the Sharks in some versions), and Riff (& the Jets in some versions) sing about what will happen that night ("Tonight Quintet"). Per her request, Tony tries to stop the impending rumble. Though Bernardo taunts Tony, ridicules his attempt to make peace, and provokes him in every way, Tony stays his ground. During the rumble, Riff and Bernardo get in a fight involving knives. Tony warns Riff to back away, but Riff blows him off and continues the fight. Bernardo stabs Riff. In blind fury, Tony angrily kills Bernardo in an act of revenge. The sirens scream; everyone runs except Tony, who stands transfixed at what he has done. Anybodys, a tomboy whose dream is to become a Jet, has followed the gang and prods Tony to escape, just in time. The curtain comes down on a stage which is empty except for the bodies of Riff and Bernardo.