Go and see West Side Story at the Oxford Apollo (until Saturday) for five reasons.
One, Gee Officer Krupke. Two, America. Both these numbers are funny, slick, and were well rewarded by applause. In a ply-off, I suspect the Shark Girls would come out on top - the boys being just that, boys, while the girls are GIRLS.
Maria, played by Celia Graham, and Norman Bowman as Tony In fact the difference between the sexes is quite noticeable. Generally the girls look older, and, in the case of the Sharks, more 'in your face'. The boys look like a collection of boy-band stand-ins.
Three. The Quintet towards the end of Act One was very fine, once the Sharks got under way, and the climax was very good.
Four. While Norman Bowman (Tony) and Celia Graham (Maria) went together well, Emma Clifford as Anita stood out in both acting and singing - and she is no mean dancer. Her spiked humour in America and her compassion towards Maria in the duet A Boy Like That/I Have A Love showed great breadth.
There were some distractions. In some numbers, the voices could have been better balanced. The castors on some of the scenery need a good oiling - and the person behind kept receiving messages on his mobile!
Five. Bernstein's brilliant score.
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