West is best

West Side Story, Palace, Manchester, to January 4
PERHAPS an unusual choice for Christmas entertainment, but what better to give us at this time of year than one of the world’s great musical romances?

True, it’s a bit wrapped up in Fifties New York street-gang violence, but you can’t have everything.

Since “West Side Story” brought post-war musical theatre into the modern world in 1957 — where it has resolutely remained, thanks to the brilliance of Sondheim’s lyrics, Bernstein’s score and the energy of Jerome Robbins and successive casts and directors — critics have been trying to place it in the range of “greatest” shows.

Several titles have a claim to greatness, but only that of “West Side Story” can be seriously entertained as the best of them all.

“Romeo and Juliet in Gangland” is as popular now as it was at its premiere, its extraordinary score undiminished by the passing years.

This production mostly gives the musical the treatment it deserves: great scale, terrific singing, a great band and total commitment from a large cast.

The set opens up the stage and allows large projected backdrops of Fifties Manhattan to fill the rear wall, while at the sides huge metal structures offer the balconies and fire escapes of apartment buildings, all atmospherically lit.

As the lovers, Louis Maskell as Tony and Katie Hall as Maria are first class.

On first viewing, Louis’ voice is obviously weaker than Katie’s, but the truth is she is a real find, with terrific stage presence and huge vocal confidence and sweetness, with a voice that might overwhelm any opposite number.

But Louis’ voice, while not naturally brilliant like hers, holds its own in duets and is impressive in solo numbers.

The other stand-out role of the night is that of Djalenga Scott as Anita, girlfriend of Maria’s murdered brother.

She is terrific in “America!”, heart-breaking in “I Have a Love” and completely watchable throughout.

As always my complaint is with the unchanged nature of Robbins’ choreography, still thrilling but getting more dated as the years go by.

Surely the Robbins estate doesn’t want the show to fail one day because it wilfully won’t keep up?