West Side Story is a classic musical that has captured the hearts of audiences since it was first performed in 1957. The story is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set in New York City's Upper West Side during the 1950s. The story follows Tony, a member of the white gang the Jets, and Maria, the sister of the leader of the Puerto Rican gang the Sharks. Despite being from different backgrounds, Tony and Maria fall in love and must navigate the dangerous rivalry between their respective gangs.
One of the most striking aspects of West Side Story is the way it deals with themes of love and conflict. The love story between Tony and Maria is a poignant reminder of the power of love to transcend differences and bring people together. However, the conflict between the Jets and the Sharks serves as a constant reminder of the ways in which societal divisions can create barriers between people.
The music in West Side Story is another highlight of the production. The score, written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, is full of catchy and memorable tunes that have become classics in their own right. The lyrics, written by Sondheim, are clever and insightful, adding depth and complexity to the story.
One of the most iconic numbers in West Side Story is "Something's Coming," in which Tony sings about his excitement and anticipation for the future. This song perfectly captures the sense of hope and optimism that is present throughout the musical. Other standout numbers include "I Feel Pretty," in which Maria sings about her joy and excitement at being in love, and "Tonight," a duet between Tony and Maria that expresses their deep love for each other.
West Side Story is a timeless classic that continues to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. Its themes of love, conflict, and hope resonate with people from all walks of life, making it a truly universal tale. Whether you are a fan of musical theater or simply looking for a poignant and powerful love story, West Side Story is a must-see production.
The Song America West Side Story Essay Analysis Example
This all shown through Imagery, symbolism, and diction. Blanche wants to forget the death of her husband, the termination of her position as a schoolteacher caused by a discovered affair with a high school aged boy and the loss of her childhood home and plantation. The play, written by Tom Stoppard, centralizes on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two secondary characters from Hamlet and it is reducing all of the major characters. Is it truly worth reviving if it was not originally politically correct? He put the kids in the burning church before himself and jumped into that church to save their lives, only to find that he would lose his own. Unlike the musical theater Beautiful where the songwriter got married to her dream husband and she started to write top hit sound tracks.
Analysis Of The Songs In West Side Story: Free Essay Example, 1855 words
Our society is fundamentally based around the often artificial groups to which we belong and the attributes and qualities associated with them. It's the signal… Singing In The Rain Play Analysis On the town was directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen who have done several films together like deep in my heart, singing in the rain and many others. When involved in a gang you feel there is no way out, nobody understands your struggle and your chances of dying is 60% more than the average person. The song begins with Rosalia's nostalgia for Puerto Rico the "lovely island, island of tropical breezes. This allows Jerome Robbin's brilliant choreography to take center stage and for the women to express themselves through dance that included exaggerated hand movements and traditional Latin dance. Anita, played by Rita Moreno, is a feisty Puerto Rican woman who is thriving in America. In the movie West Side Story numerous sociological terms are depicted, such as labeling theory, social norms, formal and informal sanctions, and the results of what governs groups within society when all else fails.
Analysis Of The West Side Story And Its Different Versions: [Essay Example], 2054 words GradesFixer
This can begin to make the audience and readers wonder, are we moving forward as a society or are we staying stagnant in our hateful and ignorant ways? Though Holden believes the world around him is phony and wicked, and while he wants to be the catcher in the rye, catching those who will fall over cliff; Holden does not only want to save those children but he also wants to save himself. At 4:00 returns to the main melody. At first glance, the most obvious issue brought across by the musical would be that of colour. These themes resonated deeply with me and were portrayed excellently through the use of powerful symbolism and the creation of highly relatable and likable characters. Whereas, the Sharks are newly arrived Puerto Ricans, with black, dark skin, and skinny.
Depiction Of The Immigrant Experience In West Side Story: [Essay Example], 636 words GradesFixer
Ethan Frome Red Color Red Analysis 627 Words 3 Pages The cat represents her presence and the color red stands for the good health of Mattie and the sleigh ride represents the time Mattie tells Ethan she needs him. When I try to tap along with the recording, I feel that this example is in triple meter. In addition to there being dramaticness, there are also some parts of the piece that sounded like victory music. Rosalia describes Puerto Rico using tropical allusions, such as "tropical breezes", pineapples, and coffee blossoms to portray it in a positive light. However Roy, Doug, Cherry and Henry represent mental patients whereas Lewis represents those who are sane. The play Cosi, discusses the issues of love and fidelity and mental illness while being set in a mental institution. When Miguel Chico is a child, Maria plays with him, takes him to mass, praises him and scolds him.
West Side Story Analysis Essay Sample
Segregation is a familiar concept in American history especially when this play was written. Riff wants to convince his friend and former member of the Jets, Tony, to meet the Jets at the dance. I agree with this quote because there are several people throughout history that have never failed to push for more and strive for better. Later on, she mentions a second random serenade of sorts, this time from a older man in a classy metropolitan hotel. Deer 2014 explains that Jerome Robbins kept all his Jets actors together, separate from the Sharks, during rehearsals in order to create a strong bond between them. The real issues such as achieving the American Dream and forging a life for themselves were erased within American mass culture in favor of the mambo and a hyperbolic Hispanic accent.
ᐅ Essays On West Side Story 📝 Free Argumentative, Persuasive, Descriptive and Narrative Samples And Papers
This theme is explored and explained in act one scenes five and six by the songs America and Cool both exemplify and define the sharks and the jets and speak to the larger theme of racism in America. But is it true that you have every opportunity in America? By looking at this scene closely you see that they seem to be forced to do so to stay in that gang. At 3:00, they have begun to play in a minor key which resembles with a more somber form of playing. There is definitely a significance of the color red, because red conveys a lot of different emotions, like love and hate. The dances become as much of a narrative tool as the songs and performances. He has influenced many writers since his death and furthermore, has had an immense impact on recent films, plays and poems. Because the wedding song being played will add to the romantic atmosphere and happy.
