West Side Story is pumping energy

JOBURGERS who are planning to watch the West Side Story production are in for a treat.

Yesterday, the media was invited to see the final dressrehearsal before the cast begins the live shows.

Choreographer Louisa Talbot said the musical, showing at the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, was full of energy.

“It’s about two rival gangs, and we tried to keep the choreography as relevant as possible. I and director Matthew Wild had lengthy discussions on how gang members would move. We tried to get a movement language for each group – the Sharks and the Jets,” she said.

Talbot said she would label the choreography contemporary hip-hop and physical theatre.

“Any movement needs to come from the real place, so that’s the main thing people will see.”

West Side Story is a musical that is loved globally, and after a successful run at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town, the production opens in Joburg today.

The two-and-a-half-hour production is packed with dancing and singing.

“There are many different forms of dancing, like fight choreography, and we worked together as a team. From the cast to the musical director, 30 heads are better than one, so we feed off each other to create a wonderful production.”

Rehearsing for such a show is strenuous for the cast members.

The new cast did pre-rehearsals with the returning cast, Talbot said.

“Each one had to learn with their own tracks and then we all came together for three weeks in Cape Town to practise. When we got to Joburg we had about 10 days to get it together. It’s hard because I’m always on their case for the bigger dance numbers.”

The show runs until March 5. Tickets at Computicket from R200.

@mane_mpi