Review: Thrilling West Side Story brings New York to New Mills

When it was first produced in 1957, West Side Story was revolutionary, with Leonard Bernstein’s complex rhythms and Stephen Sondheim’s clever lyrics employed to tell a story of doomed love set amongst the warring communities of New York. It’s sad to say that its story has lost none of its relevance, and with its themed of racially aggravated gang violence and knife crime. It is a story about young people, and it clearly still speaks to its young performers, who here grasp it with both hands.

At the centre of this tragic tale are two star-crossed lovers, Tony (Jake Hornsey, full of bravado and commitment) and Maria (Isabella Fallon, bringing sweetness and courage to the role). Both performers played the romance of their characters entirely convincingly, and their voices blended beautifully in their love duets. As Anita, Samantha Provart is fiery but also vulnerable, bringing the conflicting emotions of this character convincingly to life, and dancing with attack in the classic number, ‘America’.

The two competing gangs, the Jets, headed by Isaac McElroy as Riff, and the Sharks, headed by Lewis Moore as Bernardo brought enormous energy and excitement to their scenes, and the ensemble as a whole performed with focus and commitment throughout. Amongst the ensuing tragedy there are moments of comedy, such as the number ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’ but then things take a much darker tone altogether in the scene when Anita tries to reason with the Jets. Both tones are handled with equal assurance, indeed there are so many standout moments among the cast that it would be wrong to single more people out – suffice it to say this is a true company show where everyone works to create something special and utterly thrilling.

The young performers of Bowden Theatre Works are clearly very talented but there is more than talent on display here. Under the creative eye of director Sarah Smith, musical director Mhairi Jennings and choreographer Maisie Wild, this cast have learned focus, discipline and team spirit. In the show, Tony and Maria long for ‘a place for us, somewhere’, where they can feel safe and secure. Clearly Bowden Theatre Works creates such a home for these young people to blossom and create top-class musical theatre like this. I can’t wait to see what they do next.

West Side Story is performed at New Mills Art Theatre on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 September, and tickets can be bought at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/btw