‘West Side Story’ revival will be more like ‘West Side Gory’

Ivo van Hove definitely divides audiences and critics. Champions love the Belgian director’s stylized, ferocious whirling dervish productions. Detractors bristle in any respect the particular results, devices and gizmos. Some gasped on the flying witches in 2016’s “The Crucible.” Others thought: Why is he getting all Peter Pan-ny on us? However whereas most of van Hove’s avant-garde contemporaries are confined to BAM or the Park Avenue Armory, he’s develop into a Broadway child — and field workplace gold. His revivals of “A View from the Bridge” and “The Crucible” made tidy income, whereas “Community,” which stars Bryan Cranston and a herd of Steadicams, is grossing more than $1 million per week. And now he’s about to deal with what may be his riskiest enterprise so far: a revival of the beloved musical “West Side Story.” Musical theater followers are protecting of the classics. Keep in mind the outcry that greeted Sam Mendes’ Brechtian “Gypsy,” with Bernadette Peters, in 2003? Or the gleeful skewering of David Leveaux’s Chekhovian “Fiddler on the Roof” in 2004, with nary a Jewish actor in its shtetl? Van Hove’s “West Side Story” is likely one of the most eagerly awaited productions of the 2019-2020 season. The chat boards are positive to blow up seconds after the primary preview, on Dec. 10. However I can provide you a sneak peek. Van Hove this week staged a lab (unaffected by the Fairness strike) that knocked out these fortunate sufficient to see it. This isn’t — repeat, not — the Jerome Robbins model. For the primary time ever, the Robbins property is allowing new choreography. Van Hove is collaborating with Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, whose modern ballets are in demand all around the world. What they’ve carried out, sources say, is strip all trappings of the 1950s from the 1957 musical. A supply describes De Keersmaeker’s dances as “violent, intensely bodily, aggressive.” The depth was such that the backers who noticed it believed the Sharks and the Jets actually may kill one another. Casting is underway — van Hove and De Keersmaeker are conducting a nationwide seek for “modern” dancers. No Broadway shtick, please! It will be enjoyable to match van Hove’s “West Side Story” to Steven Spielberg’s film. That director lately forged his Tony and Maria: Ansel Elgort (“Child Driver”) and Rachel Zegler, a 17-year-old from New Jersey who posts YouTube movies of herself singing in her rest room. They’re each lovable, however a little bit conventional. You may hear Michael Riedel weekdays on “Len Berman and Michael Riedel within the Morning” on WOR radio 710. Share this: https://nypost.com/2019/01/24/west-side-story-revival-will-be-more-like-west-side-gory/ The post ‘West Side Story’ revival will be more like ‘West Side Gory’ appeared first on My style by Kartia.