 |
Covedale tells more than one West side story
REVIEW BY RICK PENDER
 |
Tony (Steve Englert) and Maria (Alison Park) pledge
their love in CYPT's West Side Story.
|
West Side Story is a musical about angry teens and love. As presented by Cincinnati Young People's Theatre (CYPT) with a big cast, it's worth seeing. No anger here: These teens sing sweetly, dance energetically, and by and large act passably.
But there's a second West side story happening at the former Covedale Cinema, reborn as the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts. With funds from the City of Cincinnati and a lot of sweat equity from community volunteers and the kids, Cincinnati's West side now has a performance venue to be proud of.
Many in the audience for the sold-out opening night audience on July 26 exclaimed over the theater: Gone is a dividing wall that split the auditorium. The large space has new seats for 299 (more to come), new carpet, paint, curtains and theatrical lights. And a stage large enough to land small aircraft.
That's a good thing, because CYPT has a battalion of teen-agers (from 14-19) at work. The Sharks and the Jets, with their girls, number about 70. The platform stage allows for an orchestra pit in front of the audience where Jeremy Helmes conducts nine musicians (and vigorously chews his gum in time with the music). When the entire cast dances or fights onstage, it's an astounding sea of humanity.
But director Tim Perrino, CYPT's founder in 1982 (he recruited kids who wanted to spend "summers the way I did as a teen -- putting on shows"), knows how to move them through fights and dances (choreographed by Jeni Schwiers). He keeps every kid focused, and avoids the sound of a thundering herd that could result from 140 feet on a wooden floor.
Perrino's talented cast includes radiant Alison Park (Walnut Hills) as a sweet Maria, and Rachel Holt (Miami University), a fine singer and dancer, as the worldly Anita. Mike Lander (Lakota East and UC) is menacing as Bernardo, and Jon Papin (Oak Hills) creates a Riff who's angry and intelligent. As Tony, Steve Englert (Oak Hills) isn't so convincing, but when he sings, you won't care.
The best scenes are ensemble numbers: "America," "Cool," "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "I Feel Pretty." But my favorite ensemble was the crowd in the lobby after the show, telling the best kind of West side story.
WEST SIDE STORY, produced by Cincinnati Young People's Theatre at the new Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, 4990 Glenway Ave., Covedale, continues through Aug. 4. Performances are sold out.
E-mail Rick Pender
 Printer-friendly version
Previously in Onstage
Hard Knock Life Dinner theater Annie is an escape from everyday stress
Review By Jennie Toner
(July 25, 2002)
A Case of the Sniffles Hay Fever in Oxford needs more ensemble work
Review By Rick Pender
(July 25, 2002)
Family Feud Opera's Elektra rounds out a spectacular season
Review By Kate Brauer
(July 18, 2002)
more...
Other articles by Rick Pender
Curtain Call The Fantasticks has strong local flavor (July 25, 2002)
Fine Tuning The centennial of Richard Rodgers' birth (July 25, 2002)
Curtain Call From the hyperactive brains of high-school cut-ups (July 18, 2002)
more...
personals |
cover |
news |
columns |
music |
movies |
arts |
dining |
listings |
classifieds |
mediakit |
promotions |
home
|
|
To Do List
The week in steel drums, art, crooked fingers and 24 hour plays
Classic Hilarity
CSF's actors inject tons of humor into Compleat Works
Country Seminar
Angels bring music and singers to life at the Playhouse
Curtain Call
Shakespeare fun and serious
Look Here!
Take a trip across the river
Groove Tube
On your TV
|
