West Side Story - Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour

A collaborative effort by some of the top writers and artists of the mid-20th century, West Side Story was an attempt to create a modern version of Shakespeare’s immortal Romeo and Juliet. It is no wonder that West Side Story went on to become a critically acclaimed and internationally loved play owing to its star-studded creative team consisting of lyricist Stephen Sondheim, writer Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and choreographer Jerome Robbins. It scored high ratings all-around, impressing both critics and casual viewers, since its 1957 premiere in Washington. The popular musical was elevated to the status of a cult classic when it was made a film in 1961. There is a subtle interplay between the story and the music that is recognizable from the start. Bernstein uses clever musical devices to underline tension, levity, and separation in unforgettable ways.

The Story

West Side Story is a modern American reproduction of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In place of the two opposing families, the story introduces two rival gangs of New York’s Upper West Side - the Jets and the Sharks. The Jets have Polish roots, but have lived in America for quite a while. The Sharks are relatively fresh immigrants from Puerto Rico. The situation begins to become tense when Tony, a close friend of Riff the Gang Leader of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo of the Sharks. Much like Romeo and Juliet, a series of unfortunate events and rivalries threaten to tear the lovers apart.

Good for

Fans of Musicals

Critics Reviews

“Leonard Bernstein's beloved all-singing, all-dancing New York masterpiece is back at the Opera House”
- TimeOut