Theatre
West Side Story, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
Marianne Gunn
Four stars
With a pan-artistic approach, the BA Musical Theatre students have been served well in this Royal Conservatoire production. The piece crackles with youth, energy and enthusiasm, in the ultimate re-imagining of Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers. Technically, the set design by Kenneth MacLeod is a triumph, both functionally and expressively, giving the acting team a many-tiered industrial playground of dreams and woes. Simon Beck's musical direction is also superb, with a talented band from the BMus and MMus programmes, the size of which would make many professional companies weep with envious longing.
As the Sharks and Jets, the young male cast fit the bill as no-good hoodlums, and it's not every class that could make such a success of the difficult score and choreography. Almost every Jet is worthy of note, however Action (James Thackeray) and Baby John (Kieran Morris) built to a comedic crescendo in scene-stealer Officer Krupke. As Bernardo, Miguel Angel Belotto brings a Latin authenticity to the part - and he has the moves to match - while Rose Soldo is his suitably feisty Anita.
Matthew Tomlinson is the perfect All-American Tony, and his smooth tenor voice makes Bernstein's flourishes (and challenging vocal ranges) seem easy. The chemistry with Maria (Charlotte Miranda-Smith) is evident and there is a playfulness in their first act flirtations that heightens the ultimate futility of the tragedy.
As an ensemble piece, it is memorably moving and impressive - and a fine platform for the young performers to make their way into the professional world.
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