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2007 CCS Production of West Side Story
PLOT SYNOPSIS of
WEST SIDE STORY
Act One
In the opening, a danced Prologue, two rival teenage
gangs, the Jets (Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto
Ricans) enact their conflict over who will control the
neighborhood. Accented by police whistles and taunting
phrases, the Prologue establishes the fierce rivalry
between the two groups.
Following a brief exchange with the ineffective
policeman, Lt. Schrank and Officer Krupke, Riff, the
leader of the Jets, devises a plan to gain control of
the street (When You're A Jet"). The members of the gang
boast of their strength, restate their bond to one
another and declare their intention to protect their
turf.
Riff has a harder time getting his best friend Tony to
re-join the gang. Riff convinces Tony to join the Jets
at the neighborhood dance where the Riff's plan will be
put into motion. Tony agrees out of a sense of loyalty
to Riff, but expresses his unhappiness with his current
life. He feels himself growing away from the gang and
envisions a different and better future ("Something's
Coming").
Maria, the sister of the Shark leader, Bernardo, has
only been in America a short time. She works with Anita,
Bernardo's girl friend, in the bridal shop. Anita is
making Maria a dress to wear to the neighborhood dance.
Maria sees this dance as the official beginning of her
life in this country. Like Tony, she is full of hope.
Bernardo arrives with Chino, a quiet, intense member of
the Sharks. Maria's family has selected Chino to be her
future husband.
A social worker, Gladhand, introduces the rival gang
members and their girls; they dance sociably for about
two minutes. Then a challenge dance erupts. Tony and
Maria, however, suddenly see one another. In a moment of
romantic suspension, they dance together, oblivious of
the tension around them. They fall in love. The romantic
idyll is interrupted when Bernardo roughly pulls Maria
from Tony's arms. Maria is sent home, as Riff and
Bernardo arrange a War Council at the drugstore.
Unaware of the plan between the two leaders, an
ecstatic Tony sings "Maria." As he sings, Maria appears
on a fire escape above him. They profess their love for
each other ("Tonight").
Anita and her friends are gathered on a city rooftop,
where they express conflicting views about their lives
in "America."
At the Drugstore, the proprietor, Doc, tries to
convince the Jets not to have a rumble (an all-out
fight) with the Sharks. The gang expresses their pent-up
tension in "Cool." Ignoring Doc, Riff and Bernardo set
up the rumble for the next day and agree on weapons.
Tony suggests a less dangerous fist fight. After the
others leave, Tony dismisses Doc's fear with his
conviction nothing can go wrong because he is love with
Maria.
The next day, Maria learns about the rumble from Anita
at the Bridal Shop. When Tony arrives, Anita leaves.
Maria begs Tony to stop the rumble and he promises her
he will. They enact a mock marriage ceremony ("One Hand,
One Heart") swearing that "even death can't part us
now."
Tony tries to stop the rumble in progress under a
highway. In the midst of insults, pushing, and shoving,
Bernardo stabs Riff. In blind fury, Tony stabs Bernardo.
The sirens scream; everyone runs except Tony, who stands
transfixed. Anybodys, a tomboy whose dream is to become
a Jet, has followed the gang, and prods Tony to escape,
just in time. The curtain comes down on a stage which is
empty except for the bodies of Riff and Bernardo.
Act Two
Unaware of the tragedy under the highway, Maria sings
to her girl friends about how beautiful she feels ("I
Feel Pretty"). She speaks of marriage, and her friends
assume she is thinking about Chino. Chino enters with
the news Tony has killed Bernardo. Left alone, Maria is
praying; Tony enters through the window. He explains why
he killed Bernardo in a moment of anger over Riff's
death. Maria forgives him, and they declare their
determination to be together. Shark and Jet couples
dance together in a dream-like, peaceful, sunlit world -
the "Somewhere" where Maria and Tony are allowed to love
one another. At the end of the dream, Tony and Maria are
in her bed, in each other's arms.
In an alley, the bumbling Office Krupke is questioning
the Jets about the murders. The gang ridicules him as
they sing "Officer Krupke," a put-down of the social
workers, cops, psychiatrists, and judges who fail to
understand what motivates their behavior.
Anita arrives at Maria's apartment. Tony escapes
through the window, telling Maria to meet him at the
drugstore so they can run away together. Anita realizes
Tony has been with Maria and turns on Maria in fury for
making love to the boy who killed her brother ("A Boy
Like That"). However, when Maria explains ("I Have a
Love"), Anita realizes Maria loves Tony as much as she
loved Bernardo. She warns Maria Chino has a gun and is
planning to kill Tony. When Shrank arrives to question
Maria, Anita agrees to go to the drugstore to tell Tony
to wait for her.
Anita is prevented from reaching Tony by the ethnic
prejudice of the Jets. The gang's verbal taunting of
Anita gets physical and is turning into rape when she is
saved by Doc. In her fury and humiliation, Anita lies
and tells Tony's buddies Chino has killed Maria.
Doc tells Tony, who is hiding in his cellar, Maria and
his dreams for the future are dead because she is dead.
Tony runs out to find Chino. On the street, Tony sees
Maria. Chino appears and kills Tony. As Maria kneels
over Tony's body, the Jets and Sharks enter. Maria takes
Chino's gun, but is unable to bring herself to fire it.
The cycle of violence ends with her.
Gradually, members of both gangs assemble on either
side of Tony's body. Maria kisses him gently. The Jets
and Sharks form a procession and together they carry
Tony offstage while the adults stand by, still helpless.
The lights fade.
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Clinton County Showcase
