In March, human rights activist and producer Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre’s production of West Side Story returned to Artscape. The popular American musical has been performed in Cape Town before and audiences raved about the brilliant actors, singers, dancers, music, and sets!
Artscape Theatre
Artscape is one of my favorite performing arts venues in Cape Town. It opened in 1971 as the Nico Malan Theatre Centre. It was renamed in 2001 and now belongs to the Western Cape Government.
The spectacular opera house has an exciting ambiance, including rehearsal rooms, gardens, and a stylish foyer. Over the years, I’ve joined friends there for memorable opera, ballet, musical, and comedy performances! Last night’s brilliant performance didn’t disappoint!
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“West Side Story is a musical about cultural differences, racism, forbidden love, revenge, and death.”
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Plot
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story’s timeless plot is set on the “harsh streets of New York City’s Upper West Side in the 1950s”.
Rival street gangs, the Puerto Rican Sharks and Caucasian Jets, battle in a turf-war to gain control of the neighborhood. Tensions rise when Tony, a former Jet and best friend of the leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, leader of the Sharks rival gang.
Production
American choreographer Jerome Robbins conceived the story in 1957, and playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote the West Side Story book. Renowned composer Leonard Bernstein created the musical score. Songwriter Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics.
The 1961 film version of West Side Story “won 11 Academy Awards, including best picture, best supporting actor and actress, best cinematographer, and best director”. The film also won a Grammy for best soundtrack. It’s undoubtedly one of the best musicals ever written.
South Africa’s Matthew Wild directs the Artscape production. Charl Johan Lingenfelder is musical director and conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic. Louisa Talbot choreographed the production with Grant van Ster as resident dance captain and choreographer.
In 2018, West Side Story is once again “sweeping Capetonians off their feet”! How could it not with the fabulous Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in the pit and an outstanding cast of forty exceptional performers?
Cast of Characters
Lynelle Kenned plays the role of Maria, a hopeless romantic who falls in love with Tony and finds herself at the center of a violent conflict between the Sharks and Jets. Kenned won the Fleur du Cap Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. Among her many talents, Kenned is an soprano opera singer with an incredible voice!
The main character Tony – former Jets leader – is torn between gang friends and his love for Maria. The part is played by talented US actor Kevin Hack who’s performed the role almost 400 times. He just completed an international tour playing in the 60th anniversary international tour of German producer Michael Brenner’s production of West Side Story.
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“The choreography exudes vibrant waves of emotion from act to act leaving its audience’s heart thumping!”
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Singer, pianist, violinist, dancer, and actress Bianca Le Grange plays Anita, Maria’s friend and Bernardo’s girlfriend. Daniel Mpilo Richards plays Bernardo, proud leader or the Sharks.
The actors are multi-talented with impressive accomplishments and careers. The beautiful, strong dancers were magnificent!!! Main characters include:
- Lynelle Kenned Maria – Bernardo’s sister in love with Tony
- Kevin Hack Tony – former Jets leader in love with Maria
- Bianca Le Grange Anita – Jet, Bernardo’s girlfriend, Maria’s friend
- Daniel Mpilo Richards Bernardo – Shark leader, Maria’s brother, Anita’s boyfriend
- Stephen Jubber Riff – quick-tempered Jets leader
- Sven-Eric Muller Diesel – Jets second-in-command
- Craig Urbani Schrank – police detective
- Richard Lothian Officer Krupke – beat cop
- James Borthwick Doc – owner of the store where the Jets hang out
- Clint Lesch Chino – Jet, Maria’s suitor, and friend of Bernardo
- Logan Timbre Action – quick-‐tempered member of the Jets
It was an interesting, eclectic crowd attending the performance – an evening of entertainment by extraordinarily talented young artists! Many more helped with production of the musical.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Next weekend Artscape hosts the 19th Cape Town International Jazz Festival. The exciting lineup includes Alistair Izobell, Amanda Black, GrazRoots Project, Blinky Bill, Claire Phillips, Miles Mosley, Nduduzo Makhathini, Mabuta, Louis Moholo, and more outstanding artists!
I had “I wanna live in America” running through my head as I read this post :-)
Such an interesting play/ musical for Cape Town.