The story remains hauntingly relevant today, almost 70 years later. This, too, is a significant part of the show’s authenticity.
“We see so much societal pressure these days of finding reasons to ‘other’ people and ‘other’ ourselves from each other, to find differences, and to place ourselves into different camps,” Roberts notes. “But when you get down to it, like Maria says in the show, we are the same. There is far more that unites us than makes us different, especially in times like these.”
Another element of authenticity in CTORA’s production is the casting of performers from Latin backgrounds for the Sharks characters—something that hasn’t always been done.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our Latino community,” Consiglio states. “As well, a lot of our cast members weren’t born in Canada and have immigrated here. This is an opportunity for them to shine, and for Vancouver audiences to see that we have a lot of incredible talent and diversity in our community. I think this is going to be a really cool show, especially because it’s cast appropriately.”
One other—and very significant—feature of authenticity in CTORA’s West Side Story is the re-creation of Broadway legend Jerome Robbins’s choreography, which garnered the show the reputation as one of the greatest dance musicals of all time. CTORA’s choreographer Suzanne Ouellette and dance captain Jennifer Lynch have meticulously studied Robbins’s notes to revive his choreography.
Besides truthful performances, ethnically appropriate casting, and iconic Broadway choreography, Roberts notes one other thing that makes CTORA’s production of West Side Story an authentic storytelling experience: its commentary on how love inspires a better world.
“When Tony and Maria find each other, it’s not just that they fall in love and want to be with each other. They want to make everything around them better. They want to stop the conflict between the Jets and the Sharks,” Roberts says. “And I think that’s the power of not just romantic love, but love in general. It has the power to bring us together and hopefully make the world a better place.”