Even half a century after its premiere, the finger-snapping opening of this marvellous musical still has the power to thrill as rival gangs, the "Polack" Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks, clash over their patch in New York's Upper West Side. Inspired by Shakespeare's classic tale of doomed young love, Romeo and Juliet, Jerome Robbins' transposition across the Atlantic and into the '50s brought together some of the big creative names on Broadway, plus a then comparatively unknown but already brilliant lyricist, Stephen Sondheim.
Despite a couple of cavils (those lyrics, always worth listening to, weren't always clear, and, at the matinee I attended, a beautifully-voiced but uncharismatic Tony dulls the romantic passion) this 50th anniversary production is a powerful treat. The choreography (reproduced from the original) is excitingly high energy with the Puerto Rican girls (led by Oneika Phillips striking Anita) vibrantly sexy in "America" and the boys showing their mettle in "Cool." Elisa Cordova makes a sweet, operatic Maria (the innocent new immigrant, sister of Shark leader Bernardo, who makes the fatal mistake of falling for former Jet Tony) and Leonard Bernstein's glorious music provides drama, comedy, romance – and the backdrop for an eerily resonant fatal knife fight.
Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1. (0870-060 6615). August 31. £60-£15. (£50-£10 Wednesday matinees)
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