Get tickets now for musical
FOR its next screening at the Pavilion on May 26, Ashbourne Community Cinema is showing the 2021 film version of West Side Story.
It is love at first sight when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks – two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.
This American musical drama is directed and coproduced by Steven Spielberg and is based on the screenplay by Tony Kushner. It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical.
Spielberg manages to retain the feel and vitality of the 1961 film and employs amazing settings to conjure up the atmosphere of New York undergoing post-war slum clearance and redevelopment with the underlying tension between the immigrant communities.
The great strength of West Side Story is the wonderful and memorable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by a young Stephen Sondheim; plus the evocative dance sequences. It is undoubtedly one of the great post-war musicals.
This version stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in her film debut as Maria, and both give excellent performances. Rita Moreno, who also starred in the 1961 film adaptation, has a moving cameo role. Tickets are once again selling well so if you are planning to go to watch it on May 26, get your tickets now.
Please note this screening will start half an hour earlier than the usual time at 7.30pm.
As usual, the bar in the Pavilion will be open prior to the film for viewers to get drinks for the performance.
Do not forget the final screening of the first season Parallel Mothers (Madres Paralelas) a 2021 Spanish drama film written and directed by the great Pedro Almodóvar. The film stars Almodóvar’s favourite actor and muse Penélope Cruz and is at the Pavilion on June 23.