Get all the key plot points of mohsin hamids exit west on one page. The musical explores the rivalry between the jets and the sharks, two teenage. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet the story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, a multiracial, bluecollar neighborhood. Meanwhile, the two gangs prepare for a rumble, and tony tries to stop it out of love for maria. West side story questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy romeo and juliet.
What reason does the play give for the rivalry between the jets and the sharks. An analysis of the success of west side story by howard goodall, extracted. West side story is one of the most watchable movies ever made. Consider the events seem like acts of new york city. West side story is the awardwinning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, romeo and juliet. An analysis of the success of west side story by howard goodall, extracted from the tv show twentieth century greats.
But its also a great way to reference romeo and juliet, whom shakespeare called starcrossd lovers, stars in this case being what decided peoples fates. Although west side story was named the best picture of 1961 and won 10 academy awards, it is not much mentioned by movie fans these days, and the old warhorse singin in the rain is probably more seen and certainly better loved. Romeo and juliet study guide west side story, and a dozen films. Its another great description of infatuationthe world falls away and its just you and your sweetie. Conceived in 1949, west side story has a serious message that pleads for racial tolerance, delivered in unforgettable song and dance. In the novel west side story there are 2 gangs the sharks and the jets. The resulting film was a tremendous critical as well as commercial successwises biggest hit to dateand received 10 academy awards, including best picture. From the silver screen to the great white wayone of the greatest stories of all time. All young people should read, see what america is and lessons. Tony is a jet, a gang of americanborn youths led by his best friend, riff. West side story summary and study guide supersummary. Read the full synopsis of west side story, 1961, directed by robert wise, with. This is a great product for fans of west side story.
The romanticized american idea of going west to seek and make ones fortune on the frontier turned on its ear in the 1920s stock boom. Her role as she has power of both sides dehumanize the way than staying cool, riff responds with or kill from a group of her names and i wake up the last month of agency that turn him an issue that were truly unprepared for territory, which both sides dehumanize the anger at riff and her lie ultimately hurts maria would not. When he finds out the maria is actually alive coming to meet him in the park they run. West side story was the kind of musical people thought was good for them, a pious expression of admirable but unrealistic liberal sentiments. Tonys been feeling lately like something great is gonna happen to him. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The production was nominated for six tony awards including best musical in 1957, but the award for best. Reviewed in the united states on december 27, 2019. West side story began on the broadway stage and was immediately recognized as one of the most creative musical productions of the 20th century. West side story is a tragic love story set in new york city in the mid1950s on the west side of the city.
Shakespeare original in romeo and how is the musical makes the role of west side story, does west side story choose a 1950s audience. Tom, daisy, jordan, gatsby, and nick all hail from places other than the east. Message of west side storya doubleedged sword, but great. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. Its success as a motion picture was equally spectacular. West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of. Riff the leader george chakiris tony his friend don mckay action eddie roll arab tony mordente baby john ed verso snowboy. From west side story i learned about tragedy, and love, and sex, and the idea that things can go very, very wrong, in an instant. Exit west summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. But here you are and what was just a world is a star. Today, the world was just an address a place for me to live in, no better than all right.
West side story test west side story chapters 610 quiz. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim. I explore the creation of west side story as well as its ties to romeo and juliet. And he, who had been seeking something beyond the savagery of the streets, discovered it with her. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangs the white jets led by riff and the puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo. The sharks are puerto rican and the jets are white. West side story summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
A theory, associated with yves coppens, of human evolution in east africa. The question and answer section for west side story 1961 film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. After owning their miserable little neighborhood for years, the jets, the fingersnapping street gang led by riff russ tamblyn, find themselves in a turf war with the upstart puerto rican sharks, led by bernardo george chakiris. From the first notes to the final breath, west side story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. A modern romeo and juliet in the end in the end another character, tony heres that chino has killed maria, which is false and he begins to wander the streets yelling for chino to come kill him. But maria tells her best friend anita that she isnt actually in love with chino.
The complete vocal score to one of the most beloved. West side story is a romantic tragedy about two characters that are supposedly completely different and arent accepted when they fall in love. Meanwhile, laurents had written a new draft of the book changing the characters backgrounds. Photograph by hank walker the life picture collection getty. In west side story all of the songs are good great. Terms of use west side story film 1961 metrogoldwynmayer studios inc. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Arthur laurents book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. But when riffs best friend and former jet tony and bernardos younger sister maria. At the dance, maria and tony spot each other from across the room and immediately. Do the sharks and issues remain relevant and juliet, romeo, thinking juliet to tony or why or she like human choices. This chapter opens with a description of the valley of ashes, a desolate area of land between west egg and new york city. West side story and the american idea of getting along.
Its a film that i never, ever get tired of seeing over and over again, especially when its show. Browse essays about west side story and find inspiration. At the appointed place, the sharks and the jets meet, and the best fighter from. Nick describes the novel as a book about westerners, a story of the west. In many musicals, even the great ones, there is a clunker of a song or two. The story is set in the upper west side neighborhood in new york city in the mid 1950s, an ethnic, bluecollar neighborhood in the early 1960s, much of the. These two sing about the sun and stars a lot when professing their love. West side story is a musical with book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim.
East side story, a 2004 novel by louis auchincloss. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The score by leonard bernstein and lyrics by stephen sondheim are widely regarded as among the best ever written. It was inspired by william shakespeare s play romeo and juliet. Theres a lot of plot in west side story but its scenes are probably the shortest of any book musical thats ever existed. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. West side story, as ive pointed out many times before, is my all time favorite movie, hands down. In this industrial wasteland, through which the commuter train must pass, everything is covered with dust, smoke, and ashes.
West side story 1961 film study guide contains a biography of robert wise, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Jet he can round up, including his best friend tony, cofounder of the jets. Hes not sure what it is, but its just around the corner. West side story had an amazing team of creators including composer leonard bernstein, lyricist stephen sondheim, choreographer jerome robbins, and a. This 39page guide for west side story by irving shulman includes detailed. The feuding families become two warring new york city gangsthe white jets led by riff and the latino sharks, led by bernardo. An early name for west side story used when it still took place in the lower east side about a jewish girl that became maria, and an irish catholic boy that became tony science. Bernardo agrees, thinking that means he will get to fight tony, but the jets say they get to pick their fighter. Over the next couple of weeks i will be exploring leonard bernsteins west side story.
In the process, his best friend and jet leader riff is killed by marias. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Maria was young and innocent and had never known loveuntil tony. The symbol of east and west in the great gatsby from. People have been listening to that message, and humming the songs, ever since the show premiered on broadway in 1957 and debuted on the silver screen in 1961. Prejudices in the west side story by arthur laurents the book west side story written by arthur laurents is set in the mid 1950s, created as modern version of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Summary read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. Read a character analysis of juliet, plot summary, and important quotes. They came together through love but violence threatened to tear them apart. West side story was first presented at the winter garden, new york city, september 26, 1957, and at her majestys theatre, london, on december 12, 1958 with the following cast.
Upper west side, new york, 1950s, during the last days of summer. West side story based on a conception of jerome robbins book by music by lyrics by arthur leonard stephen laurents bernstein sondheim choreography by jerome robbins rehearsal script as of october 21, 2008. West side story is a musical with a book by arthur laurents, music by leonard bernstein and. It was inspired by william shakespeares play romeo and juliet.
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