West Side Story

See it if Wonderful dancing & excellent leading voices

Don't see it if The pacing was extremely slow from the start- & seemed to lack energy; The video projection was disorienting- when paired with stage

See it if You like the idea of great musicals being updated.

Don't see it if You treasure the original production or even the film. This production will disappoint you.

Also Although the use of video is really good in opening up Doc's store and the boutique it is really distracting when the dances or fights are going on. You're trying to concentrate on the stage and have bits of close up going on the screen behind as well as video cameramen getting in the way on the stage. I also found the choreography messy - too many different moves going on at the same time. Call me old-fashioned but the original staging was magical, this is not.... Read more Read less

See it if You like high school level musicals. And want to pay a fortune to do so. I’m beyond disappointed.

Don't see it if You loved the movie and this director’s other recent work as I did because you are going to be sad and angry at this production.

Also This was a lazy attempt to try to be edgy and it fails spectacularly. There is no passion and zero chemistry between the lackluster leads. The use of the handheld camera projecting on the back wall often makes you feel like you’re watching a cheaply produced tv show — for no reason at all. As others said, it’s distracting and useless. The cast is so racially blended that it’s hard to even tell at times who was a shark and who was a jet. And I didn’t care about any of them. The directors use of rain went on too long with no reason at all. It didn’t create drama. The attempted rape made no sense as these guys didn’t even seem like this would happen — it was stuck in to try to create any attempt at something interesting to see. Fail. I didn’t laugh, I didn’t delight, I didn’t connect, I didn’t cry. I felt absolutely nothing. The most forgettable thing I’ve seen in years. Did the director just dial this in? I’m really bummed.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to throw away money on a pretentious insult to a masterpiecE.

Don't see it if If you care about storytelling, shows that have heart

See it if Don’t see it

Don't see it if You love this musical

Also the darkness and grittiness of the production is distracting. There are some incredibly graphic moments. The production should come with content warnings for the close up violent murders depicted on the large screen that is a part of the show and an EXTREMELY graphic horrible rape scene (in the original, it is only hinted at that Anita is sexually assaulted by the Jets at doc’s store. )It feels like von hove feels like audiences need the story spoon fed to them. We don’t need to see the violence in such gory detail- in fact, focusing on the murders distracts from the reasons behind them and the motivations of the character. “Gee, officer krupke” reads more like a PSA about police violence than the most humorous moment in the show. The police, who are complex and flawed people, are instead caricatures of racist boomers. Von Hove beats the audience over the head with how violent the story is, which loses the entire point of the story.... Read more Read less

See it if Really astounding staging, scenic design, and performances. Innovative and risk taking. Excellent modernization of a classic.

Don't see it if If you’re a purist when it comes to classical musicals. Highly different from the original.

See it if You are not attached to the original. You will not become triggered by sexual violence or gun violence.

Don't see it if If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or assault. There is a gang rape scene that was not in the original and was highly distressing.

Also Be prepared to have a gun pointed at you. Given the state of our country, this felt particularly unnecessary and unnerving. It didn't add anything to the production and took away from the love story of the original play.... Read more Read less

See it if The staging the best.

Don't see it if You want A+ singing & dancing.

Also The Staging was fabulous, the
best ever. The director outstanding.
The acting & singing was just ok.... Read more Read less

See it if You’d love to hear the beautiful music live

Don't see it if You love WWS and are expecting to see the beautiful story unfold before you.

Also Cameras, watching projections of actors rather than live, ½ the play crammed into small spaces at the back of the stage.
To me, WWS is a beautiful love story tangled in a mess of fear and hatred. This production is more shallow social commentary with the love story slapped in. I feel like the director rushed everything with hopes of achieving high impact (maybe?) but in doing so stunted the emotion. I’ve never watched WWS without emotion. Until now. The re-sequencing of some of the numbers made no sense. And, if changes/updates were part of this production, the mid-20th century biases should have been updated too.
Shallow, rushed, visually unappealing, without emotion.
Looking forward to seeing these talented performers in future shows as well as the next, hopefully modern, relevant, beautiful revival.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy watching videos and really want to go to a very expensive movie with live voice overs. Or- you are friends with a cast member.

Don't see it if you are under 6'3" - you won't see anything but the back of heads of the folks in front of you, and live video of the show you are missing!

Also The worst flat theater in NYC affords terrible views from orchestra. Show starts at 8:05 and they warn you to get there on time or miss it. No intermission, no bathroom emergency allowed. They should sell diapers in the lobby before the performance. Production is trying to make it 21st century but WSS is mid-century piece and it just doesn't work. Jets and Sharks did not have neck tattoos and earrings- the dialogue is out of synch with the production. Worst: video projections dwarfed talented young cast. Songs and entire production seem rushed. Two segments cut from original score. Choreography interesting but give me Jerome Robbins, please. You get a card in the program that warns that the show runs 1 hr 45 mins and if you leave for any reason, you will not be allowed to re-enter. OMG.... Read more Read less

See it if Very entertaining. Updated version. Great acting.

Don't see it if If you are looking for the original version.

See it if I loved the fast paced retelling and thought some one the principals were incredible. I didn’t mind the cutting of a few numbers.

Don't see it if You’re seeking a classic interpretation; some of the visual projections were confusing, the rape scene was beyond disturbing.

See it if Video is your thing, but still you shouldn’t see it

Don't see it if You want a quality, non-condescending production of an American classic

Also -To start, the show has no overture to settle you into the mood;
-there is no set, just a massive video screen at the back of the stage;
-indeed, much of the action takes place off stage and piped in via video. This is not Theater.
-there is no romance between the two leads. The actors were capable, but somehow the staging and direction renders them lifeless;
-costumes were dull and monochromatic;
-there is no wit. “Gee, Officer Krupke” has been rendered into a witless, ugly and condescending (to the audience) diatribe. That number is a much-needed comic relief, but not here. Nope. “This material is too serious for such nonsense,” I can hear the producers saying. I wanted to boo after it, but felt it wasn’t fair to the players;
-the applause after each number, save one, was tepid at best. “America” was the exception which roused the audience;
-I guess it’s “buyer beware” when the preview period is 2 1/2 months long, folks.... Read more Read less

See it if Cast was youthful, energetic (if nervous). Singing was good. Orchestra was great.

Don't see it if You're a purest of the original B'way show or movie.

Also I saw the performance on 12/26/19, night. The understudy for Tony/Anton (Mr. Jordan?) was outstanding, both in acting and song; Maria was fantastic, as well, particularly in song (she forgot some lines in the final scene). The orchestra was wonderful. However, there was no set/staging to speak of. This is unacceptable and unforgiveable for a Broadway production. Much of theater is staging. The video/screen was distracting and annoying, especially during dance scenes. Leaving the entire stage empty to play out scenes behind the stage wall (Doc's store; the tailor shop) and having the audience watch the live action play out on a screen is incomprehensible. Overall, I felt like I was watching a high school production: fun, but not worthy of a B'way stage. I'm hopeful that the producers/directors will make major overhauls, particularly with respect to the staging/set and entirely nix all of the videos. If they don't, I expect this show's run on Broadway will be short-lived.... Read more Read less

See it if If you appreciate new interpretations of classics with a young vibrant cast. The original musical scores and choreography are well done

Don't see it if You can only appreciate the original version. This is a show of the times we live in as exemplified in Gee Officer Krupke

Also Highly recommend this show!
Beautiful choreography and while technology plays a part, the talent still shines through.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a weak musical

Don't see it if It was choppy and left you not caring what happened or who died. And I cry @ Romeo & Juilet the ballet! The staging was very low budget.

See it if Unusual staging of a great classic makes it new again

Don't see it if Don’t like musicals

See it if If you are curious about what makes this revival different from previous ones.

Don't see it if You want to see it staged exactly like the 1957 original cast production. The Somewhere Ballet and I Feel Pretty are not included.

See it if You like good choreography and enjoy the songs.

Don't see it if You expect great stage sets, outstanding singing and get dizzy easily from an overload of on stage movement with coordinated video movement

Also simultaneously.

See it if You like fabulous choreography, phenomenal camera work. Very moving.

Don't see it if Cannot tolerate violence. You like upbeat musicals

See it if loved the music, which stayed true to original, and enjoy contemporary dance

Don't see it if you hold the original as sacrosanct

Also Spoilers (for this production) warning, do not read ahead...
Fine, they wanted an update for modern times, so they included smartphones. But only for one scene? If smartphones existed in their world, then Maria and Tony could have texted each other to save time (and the show production costs)! Anita could have stolen Maria's smartphone, pretended to be her and cause trouble which would have led to the same violent result. They could have projected text messages in the background (like BBC's Sherlock). So many missed opportunities to show that it takes place in 2020. They could have updated the dialogue too. Did they consult any actual American teens to observe how they talk nowadays? And it doesn't make sense for Jets to be that diverse and also discriminate against puerto ricans. Today's nativism in US has mostly been about white supremacy, unless it's legal vs illegal or left vs right-wing. But for that to work they have to take out (or update) the America song.... Read more Read less

See it if You like “no holds barred” modern interpretations of classics.

Don't see it if easily traumatized by an upsetting gang rape scene that is displayed live and also projected on screens all around. My kid is now in therapy

See it if Those that don’t have a problem with reimagining a classic and love Leonard Bernstein’s masterwork with the first set of lyrics by Sondheim.

Don't see it if You’re a stickler for the way it’s been done before, with Robbin’s choreography and in 2 acts instead of no intermission.