Review: Liverpool Empire Theatre - West Side Story

I was so excited to see this timeless American classic at the Liverpool Empire theatre and my excitement was justified. From the outset, the show did not disappoint. Dazzling choreography, beautiful musical score and outstanding performances by the protagonists had me and the rest of the audience riveted to our seats.

Katie Hall who played Maria and Dominic Hodson who played her love interest Tony captivated me from the moment they opened their mouths in song. Equally, Djalenga Scott (Anita) and Javier Cid (Bernardo) performed with conviction and passion.

The complex and challenging choreography was delivered with precision and ease by the talented dancers as this re-enactment of the 1957 classic was played out before us. The story of the Jets and the Sharks, the vehement rivalry and the ensuing love story unfolded with fluidity and built in intensity. The vocal ability of Katie Hall and Dominic Hudson was incredible, their performances were simply stunning and flawless.

The musical score courtesy of the late composer Leonard Bernstein provided the fantastic soundtrack to the performances. Songs such as Maria, Tonight, America and Somewhere were amongst my personal favourites.

Set in 1950s New York during the last days of summer, the set designed by Paul Gallis was perfect, two large platforms with multiple floors and stunning projected images made you feel as though you had been transported back in time. The beautiful lighting and backdrop to the different numbers set the scene perfectly.

Hats off to Jerome Robbins and Joey McKneely - responsible for the idea, conception & choreography. The final result was a slick production which despite being 2 hours and 20 minutes in duration managed to hold the interest of the audience throughout.

It was majestically romantic, completely convincing and stunning in every aspect. I would watch this again in a heart beat. The tragic tale was told so beautifully and the integrity to the original Broadway hit was reassuring. The orchestra played exquisitely and the choreography was perfectly aligned. A plethora of bright costumes adorned the stage for this extravaganza. Whether you know the original story or not, you cannot help but to be transported on an emotional journey, from excitement and jubilation to fear and sadness. This is a must see and is worthy of five stars.

Simply stunning - a spectacle to behold.

The final performance is Saturday 30th August at 7:30 pm Tickets can be purchased here