Story that makes hearts leap
In Dublin, the audience was with them every single second, cheering every number. In Hong Kong, they met a more reserved crowd – until the lights came up and applause filled the theatre.
Zurich, Dubai, Istanbul, Prague, Frankfurt, Munich – Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva has seen audiences the world over react to West Side Story. He is yet to see it fall flat.
Quinones-Villanueva speaks over the phone from a hotel in Hong Kong, where the production – which visits Auckland this month – is two weeks into a three-and-a-half week run.
An actor, dancer and singer, Quinones-Villanueva has been on tour with West Side Story since October. This is not his first time taking the stage as a member of the Shark gang. He performed on Broadway and in a previous world tour.
First performed in 1957, West Side Story is set in a New York City summer where the heat of the weather is matched by racial tensions between two groups of immigrants: the white Jet gang and the Puerto Rican Sharks.
When Maria, sister to the Sharks’ leader, falls in love with Tony, a Jet, the gangs clash in a Romeo and Julietinspired tragic love story.
Quinones-Villanueva plays Bernardo, Maria’s older brother and leader of the Sharks.
The story has personal resonance for Quinones-Villanueva. He was born in Puerto Rico, but before that his parents lived in the Bronx in New York. As he grew up, they told him stories about their time in America, and the racial tensions and clashes that took place in a city that was then divided along ethnic lines.
Quinones-Villanueva’s father is in fact his inspiration for the proud and protective Bernardo.
‘‘My father is very family-oriented, very protective of his family. And that is something very clear about Bernardo. His character is a very proud person, very proud of where he comes from,’’ he says.
His mother, meanwhile, reminds him of the strong-willed Anita, Bernardo’s girlfriend. Growing up, his father made it clear he was the head of their household, but his mother would fight back against him.
‘‘As I grow older I see my mum, she always would stand her ground, it doesn’t matter what he thinks, she will ‘‘It changed my world, it opened up avenues. It allowed me to express things I couldn’t express any other way.’’ have her own opinion. And that’s very Anita, that is the kind of relationship they have. Even when they fight it is a relationship of respect and love,’’ Quinones-Villanueva says.
As a child, Quinones-Villanueva danced in talent shows and with folk groups, but it wasn’t until he was chosen for a youth dance company – sponsored by the Government of Puerto Rico – that he started taking it seriously.
While on a trip to perform in New York, the company was taken to see the musical Cats. That was when Quinones-Villanueva realised dance could be a career.
He has been ‘‘lucky and blessed enough’’ to make a go of it, and now performs around the world. Next week he’ll visit Auckland for the first time, with West Side Story.