| re: question re: WSS - have the authors ever addressed why there's SO much more Jets than Sharks in the score/play? | |
| Posted by: theatreguy40 06:45 pm EST 12/24/21 | |
| In reply to: question re: WSS - have the authors ever addressed why there's SO much more Jets than Sharks in the score/play? - Chazwaza 05:37 pm EST 12/24/21 | |
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| Your post is very interesting ... but maybe you answered some of your own questions as you thought it all out. But let me address a few of your thoughts/concerns. First of all - I, too, adore the show (and the original movie). I have directed and/or choreographed numerous professional productions so I feel I know the material extremely well. Let me throw this out to you concerning the "Tony vs. Maria" songs: Tony sings "Something's Comin'" --- maybe the fact that he "sings" is meant to be a metaphor for his "maturing" and finding new meaning in life. (although at this point, he doesn't know what that is - only that a strong "feeling" is overwhelming him. Maria's first scene (with Anita ) has NO song for her --- she is still secluded and safe in her world and hasn't experienced a "new" feeling. Tony and Maria meet. Tony sings "Maria" - advancing his new feeling of his world changing. The feeling is now complete. Maria and Tony then sing "Tonight" --- she finally is experiencing a Life changing feeling and her "singing" is the metaphor for the beginning of her transformation. Does this make sense - possibly???? As far as the Gangs and their number of songs -- I have two possible theories: 1) My first theory is that the creatives (Robbins, Laurents and Sondheim) were never concerned -- or possibly even thought about - "Balancing" the score between the two gangs. They were most likely more interested in simply telling the story and deciding that a particular moment needed to be musicalized to enhance the moment. 2) Usually in a musical, the more a character "sings" the more important they become. But maybe -- just maybe -- by having the Sharks sing less it gives them more sympathy???? They seem more put upon since we know less about them and therefore the hatred the Jets feel toward them makes us (the audience) more sympathetic to the underdog gang??? Possibly??? |
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| Previous: | re: my problem with Sondheim's problem with "I Feel Pretty" - Chromolume 10:41 pm EST 12/24/21 |
| Next: | re: question re: WSS - have the authors ever addressed why there's SO much more Jets than Sharks in the score/play? - Chazwaza 07:20 pm EST 12/24/21 |
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