Datebook: The Sharks and the Jets didn’t originate as Puerto Ricans and ethnic whites, Tony Kushner points out. Back when Arthur Laurents and team were first envisioning “West Side Story,” the musical was “East Side Story,” its conflict between Catholics and Jews. And before that, in source material “Romeo and Juliet,” the warring sides were indistinguishable — “two households, both alike in dignity.”
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It is abundantly clear that not one single detail is without a thorough and complete explanation. I don’t know a ton about West Side Story, but this article gave an insight that I had never thought about before. Also at the beginning of the article it was interesting to see how the show has transformed and the different groups that were pitted against each other that could have been candidates for the players in the show. Kushner explained the relationship between the Jets and the Sharks so well. They were both being hurt by this larger power, the government, but instead they took these problems up with each other. It also seems like Kushner attempted to deepen Tony and Maria’s relationship past just blind love at first sight, they actually were aware that their actions had consequences and bad things could happen because of them. Overall, Kushner’s book seemed to add a new layer to West Side Story that wasn’t seen in previous versions of the iconic show.
I really appreciated the explanation behind the decision to show how Lincoln Square was being torn down. The setting in the movie feels very rough, grim, and almost desert-like because of the rubble and dust. It adds an entirely new element to the story and really enhances the struggle between the Sharks and Jets. I was surprised to learn it wasn’t originally going to be about Puerto Ricans and ethnic whites, because it feels so essential to the story and music. Kushner also discusses the decision to have Tony and Maria go to the Cloisters for a date; it felt so realistic, and time-appropriate but not cliche. The addition of both Tony and Chino opening the gate to the rumble was really great and added another layer of emotion to the scene; they seem friendly, but we know they will end up enemies in just a few moments, helping one another to destroy each other.
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