John Zetterquist

Reviews and other content aren't verified by Google

I LOVE the original West Side Story, but the new one is even better! The characters are deeper in personality and better defined, the outside sets (NYC, and autos) and more in keeping with the 1950s, and the entire presentation is less like a stage production than the original. Most importantly, the Sharks are portrayed by Latinos, all characters do their own singing, and the "hoods" look and act like real hoods of that era, my era. I also appreciate the Latino characters occasionally speaking Spanish, as would be natural. Every actor did a terrific job, notably Rita Moreno and Ansel Elgort (Tony), bur the true superstar of the future is Rachel Zegler (Maria). I was sure that a rethinking of West Side Story could not match the original, but it surpasses it.