Day Twenty-One: West Side Story
Today's musical is one that inspires me, which is West Side Story. I've just always liked this musical, it just makes me feel happy! (Or maybe because I'm a big fan of Shakespeare- he was quite the pick-up artist!)
So, there are two 'gangs' in the city; the Jets (the 'White' group) and the Sharks (the 'Puerto Rican' group) and both struggle for control of the neighborhood. The police warn both groups to stop fighting among each other. The Jets- Riff (the leader), Diesel, Action, A-Rab, Baby John, Snowboy, Joyboy, Big Deal, Tiger, Mouthpiece, Gee-Tar- decide they want to plan a rumble against the Sharks- Bernardo, Chino, Pepe, Indio, Loco, Juano, Luiz, Rocco, Toro, Del Campo, Chile. Riff finds his old friend and former group leader, Tony, and asks him to meet the Jets at the dance. Tony does, but he wants no further part with the gang.
Maria works in a bridal shop with Anita, her brother Bernardo's girlfriend. Maria had just arrived from Puerto Rico and her family picked Chino to be her future husband. Anita and Maria talk about going to the dance. At the dance, the teenagers begin to dance. Not long after, there's a dance battle, and Tony and Maria spot each other from across the room. Unaware of the tension in the room, the two dance and are about to kiss when Bernardo takes Maria away and sends her home.
Riff and Bernardo agree for a War Council at Doc's, the drug store Tony works at and is declared neutral grounds. An infatuated and happy Tony finds Maria's building and serenades her outside her bedroom. He climbs onto her fire escape and the two proclaim their love for one another. Meanwhile, Anita and the other Shark girls talk about the differences between Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Inside Doc's, the Jets wait for the Sharks. The two groups meet and discuss using weapons at the rumble. Tony suggests a "fair fight" (fists only) and the leaders agree to that idea. Bernardo wanted to fight Tony, but has to fight Diesel instead. The police (particularly Lt. Schrank) is trying to find the location of the rumble. Tony tells Doc, the owner of the drug store, about Maria. Doc is worried for the two, but Tony isn't; he's in love.
Maria has been in a very happy mood and cannot wait to see Tony again. Tony meets Maria at the bridal shop and dream about their wedding. She asks Tony to stop the fight, which he agrees to do. Tony, Maria, Anita, Bernardo and Riff anticipate the events to come that night. The gangs meet under the highway, and Bernardo and Diesel are about to fight. Tony tries to make peace and to stop the fight. Bernardo is provoking Tony, but Tony refuses to fight, resulting in Riff punching Bernardo in Tony's defense.
Riff and Bernardo draw out switchblades and get into a knife fight. Riff is stabbed by Bernardo and Tony, in a fit of rage, grabs Riff's blade and kills Bernardo. The two gangs get into a free-for-all. They hear the sound of sirens and everyone leaves, except for Tony, who has just realized what he has done and leaves at the last moment.
Unknowing of what Tony had done, Maria daydreams about seeing Tony with her friends. Chino brings the news that Tony killed Bernardo. Maria flees to her room, hoping that Chino is mistaken. Tony arrives to see Maria, who is originally mad with Tony. The two talk of running away together and imagine it. One of the police officers pursues the Jets, which causes a fight and the officer leaves. Anybodys, a tomboy wanting to join the Jets, overhears Chino wanting to kill Tony with a gun. She also begins a relationship with Action when she relays the news.
Anita arrives at Maria's apartment and overhears Tony telling Maria to meet him at Doc's so they can run to the country together. Anita becomes furious discovering this and belittles him. Maria responds by telling Anita how powerful love is. Anita realizes Maria loves Tony just as much as Anita herself loved Bernardo. She admits Chino has a gun and is searching for Tony.
Maria tells Anita to tell Tony, who is waiting for Maria at Doc's, to wait as Lt. Schrank arrives to question Maria about her brother's death. When Anita arrives at Doc's, the Jets were there are were throwing racial slurs at Anita and physically attack her. Doc comes and breaks up the fight. Anita spitefully tell the Jets, and Doc- who happens to overhear- that Chino shot Maria dead.
Doc relays the news to Tony, who has been dreaming of traveling to the countryside and have children with Maria. Tony, who is now feeling suicidal, leaves to find Chino so he can kill Tony. Just as Tony sees Maria, who is still alive and has never been killed, Chino shoots Tony. Both gangs flock around the lovers. Maria holds Tony in his arms and sings to him as he dies.
The Jets, furious another friend of theirs is killed, is about to attack the Sharks when Maria grabs Chino's gun and tells both groups that they all killed Tony, Riff and Bernardo, and that she can now kill, because she hates too. However, she's unable to shoot the gun and drops it to the ground, and begins sobbing. All members of both gangs crowd around Tony's body, signifying that the feud is over, and carries Tony's body off in a procession, with Maria walking behind them.
This is one of my personal favorites, the 'Tonight Quintet' (It's based off the 1961 movie version: This is before the rumble that Riff and Bernardo die at, when everyone is talking about what will happen that night.)
Maria works in a bridal shop with Anita, her brother Bernardo's girlfriend. Maria had just arrived from Puerto Rico and her family picked Chino to be her future husband. Anita and Maria talk about going to the dance. At the dance, the teenagers begin to dance. Not long after, there's a dance battle, and Tony and Maria spot each other from across the room. Unaware of the tension in the room, the two dance and are about to kiss when Bernardo takes Maria away and sends her home.
Riff and Bernardo agree for a War Council at Doc's, the drug store Tony works at and is declared neutral grounds. An infatuated and happy Tony finds Maria's building and serenades her outside her bedroom. He climbs onto her fire escape and the two proclaim their love for one another. Meanwhile, Anita and the other Shark girls talk about the differences between Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Inside Doc's, the Jets wait for the Sharks. The two groups meet and discuss using weapons at the rumble. Tony suggests a "fair fight" (fists only) and the leaders agree to that idea. Bernardo wanted to fight Tony, but has to fight Diesel instead. The police (particularly Lt. Schrank) is trying to find the location of the rumble. Tony tells Doc, the owner of the drug store, about Maria. Doc is worried for the two, but Tony isn't; he's in love.
Maria has been in a very happy mood and cannot wait to see Tony again. Tony meets Maria at the bridal shop and dream about their wedding. She asks Tony to stop the fight, which he agrees to do. Tony, Maria, Anita, Bernardo and Riff anticipate the events to come that night. The gangs meet under the highway, and Bernardo and Diesel are about to fight. Tony tries to make peace and to stop the fight. Bernardo is provoking Tony, but Tony refuses to fight, resulting in Riff punching Bernardo in Tony's defense.
Riff and Bernardo draw out switchblades and get into a knife fight. Riff is stabbed by Bernardo and Tony, in a fit of rage, grabs Riff's blade and kills Bernardo. The two gangs get into a free-for-all. They hear the sound of sirens and everyone leaves, except for Tony, who has just realized what he has done and leaves at the last moment.
Unknowing of what Tony had done, Maria daydreams about seeing Tony with her friends. Chino brings the news that Tony killed Bernardo. Maria flees to her room, hoping that Chino is mistaken. Tony arrives to see Maria, who is originally mad with Tony. The two talk of running away together and imagine it. One of the police officers pursues the Jets, which causes a fight and the officer leaves. Anybodys, a tomboy wanting to join the Jets, overhears Chino wanting to kill Tony with a gun. She also begins a relationship with Action when she relays the news.
Anita arrives at Maria's apartment and overhears Tony telling Maria to meet him at Doc's so they can run to the country together. Anita becomes furious discovering this and belittles him. Maria responds by telling Anita how powerful love is. Anita realizes Maria loves Tony just as much as Anita herself loved Bernardo. She admits Chino has a gun and is searching for Tony.
Maria tells Anita to tell Tony, who is waiting for Maria at Doc's, to wait as Lt. Schrank arrives to question Maria about her brother's death. When Anita arrives at Doc's, the Jets were there are were throwing racial slurs at Anita and physically attack her. Doc comes and breaks up the fight. Anita spitefully tell the Jets, and Doc- who happens to overhear- that Chino shot Maria dead.
Doc relays the news to Tony, who has been dreaming of traveling to the countryside and have children with Maria. Tony, who is now feeling suicidal, leaves to find Chino so he can kill Tony. Just as Tony sees Maria, who is still alive and has never been killed, Chino shoots Tony. Both gangs flock around the lovers. Maria holds Tony in his arms and sings to him as he dies.
The Jets, furious another friend of theirs is killed, is about to attack the Sharks when Maria grabs Chino's gun and tells both groups that they all killed Tony, Riff and Bernardo, and that she can now kill, because she hates too. However, she's unable to shoot the gun and drops it to the ground, and begins sobbing. All members of both gangs crowd around Tony's body, signifying that the feud is over, and carries Tony's body off in a procession, with Maria walking behind them.
This is one of my personal favorites, the 'Tonight Quintet' (It's based off the 1961 movie version: This is before the rumble that Riff and Bernardo die at, when everyone is talking about what will happen that night.)
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