Marcus Center presents a vibrant “West Side Story”

 

The music of West Side Story seems so familiar it’s surprising to realize that the show is 55 years old. The touring version of the 2010 Broadway revival that opened at the Marcus Center Tuesday proves that Arthur Laurents’ story is still relevant and the Bernstein and Sondheim score is as beautiful as ever.

Laurents updated the latest version of the story of star-crossed lovers to add some Spanish lyrics and dialog to the English libretto. The result seems more authentic and compels the audience to be more attuned to the words and actions of the characters.

Dance is an important element of West Side Story. This cast has what it takes to put Jerome Robbins’ energetic choreography across, from the menacing opening “Prologue” of the rival gangs to the ethereal “Somewhere” dream ballet in Act II.

Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva, Bernardo in Tuesday’s performance, had the assurance of a bullfighter as the leader of the Puerto Rican Sharks. His counterpart in the “Jets” gang is Riff, a scrappy street fighter played by Drew Foster. Their gritty battle for dominance of their New York City neighborhood is summed up in the line “Turf is small, but it’s all we got.”

The lovers, played by Ross Lekites as Tony, the former leader of the Jets, and Evy Ortiz as Maria, sister of Bernardo, are exquisitely suited to these roles. Their love shines in the hauntingly beautiful “One Hand, One Heart.” Even when they’re not singing, the two seemed thoroughly engaged with one another as Alexandra Frohlinger sang the “Somewhere.” Frohlinger Anybodys, the tomboy and would-be gang member.

Lekites’ voice is perfect for the wistful “Something’s Coming” ballad he sings at the beginning of the production. He seems to gain confidence in the tender “Maria” and seals the deal in a lovely rendition of “Tonight” with Ortiz. They sing “Tonight” on Maria’s tenement fire escape, to parallel the Balcony Scene in Romeo and Juliet.

The petite Ortiz captures the sweet spirit of Maria. Her “I Feel Pretty” (“Me Siento Hermosa”) sung with her friends, expresses the longing of a young girl on the brink of adulthood.

Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics for West Side Story, in what was his Broadway debut, are as snappy and suggestive as his more sophisticated later works. “America,” sung by the Shark girls — led by the skilled Michelle Aravena as Anita — is a fast-paced ode to the immigrant experience. The biting humor of “Gee, Officer Krupke” sung (and explicitly danced) by the Jets must have seemed really cutting edge in 1957. In today’s ‘anything goes’ milieu it merely seemed whiny.

James Youmans’ deceptively simple sets worked well; the backdrop for the rumble scene under the highway was especially effective.

West Side Story runs through Sunday, with performances at 7:30 p.m. weeknights, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. For tickets call the Marcus box office, (414) 273-7206, or visit the Marcus Center website.