By Keith Kreitman

David Allen, Special to the Town Crier

Theater review

The musical “West Side Story” is steadily becoming as much a classic as its inspiration, the immortal “Romeo and Juliet,” by William Shakespeare.

Foothill Music Theatre’s production of “West Side Story,” which opened July 21 and runs through Aug. 13 at Smithwick Theater at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, does the musical full justice.

Ironically, Leonard Bernstein, who hoped that his more serious musical works would be his greatest legacy, may be best remembered for a musical score that is as fresh and emotionally charged as when it first appeared on the stage in 1957.

Foothill Music Theatre continues to present productions as dramatically well cast and directed as one is able to find anywhere short of Broadway. The dancers were outstanding, releasing a reckless abandon and lusty overtones that got the audience’s feet stompin’ and cheering throughout the evening.

Particularly outstanding in the acting/dancing department was Lisa Jenal Hernandez as Anita, Maria/Juliet’s friend and her brother Bernardo’s lover. She was a dominating presence on the stage.

C.J. Blankenship, who is rapidly becoming the premier male musical star on the Peninsula, is a natural for the Tony/Romeo role. With his broad acting, singing and ballet talents he brings to the characterization all the romantic sweetness and strength that Shakespeare intended.

Lane McKenna was flawless as Maria/Juliet, with the pleasing singing talent and dramatic skills needed to put over this heartbreaking characterization as an innocent victim of cultural and social tensions.

The cleverness and wit of the lyrics by a 27-year-old Stephen Sondheim, especially in the show-stopping dancing/singing ensemble of “Gee, Officer Krupke,” was an early warning sign of the greatness to come from this song-writing genius.

The original choreography of Jerome Robbins, perhaps, the greatest dance creator in Broadway history, is the inspiration for the work of Bubba Gong for this production. And we can’t forget the direction of Jay Manley, who managed to preserve the macho, lusty and almost uncontrolled emotional character of the New York ethnic communities of the early 1950s.

For those few who may not yet know the story, the Puerto Rican “Sharks” and American “Jets” gangs replace Shakespeare’s Montague and Capulet families as the warring factions in the turbulent West Side of New York.

Tony, a Polish-American caught up in his overwhelming passion for the Puerto Rican Maria, attempts to defuse a lethal confrontation between her brother Bernardo, played winningly by Kato Bonner. However, Tony gets dragged into the violence instead.

David Sattker gave a strong performance as Riff, Tony’s best friend and the Jets leader.

The story line is only the skeleton upon which is hung some of the most beautiful songs and vital and evocative dancing in the history of the Broadway musical stage. It is a true masterpiece.

For tickets and show times, call 948-4444 or 949-7414.