Way back in 2009, I posted a tribute to the long-forgotten model-turned-society-hostess Ruth Ford, who hosted a famous theatrical [="gay"] salon at her home in the Dakota Building in New York:
...she hosted parties attended by such luminaries as Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, Terrence McNally and Truman Capote - just imagine a single room that could possibly hold all those queens together!But most exciting of all, it was in Ruth Ford's apartment that a young Stephen Sondheim was first introduced to Arthur Laurents and, later, to Leonard Bernstein. Together, these three remarkable men came up with one of the best musicals of all time - West Side Story! And it was all down to Miss Ford...
One of the most extolled successes in musical theatre history, this updated version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was made even more popular when Mr Laurents and producer Robert Wise turned it into a blockbuster movie in 1961 - which went on to win 10 Academy Awards; the most ever for a musical film. [Its influence stretches even to the modern era, as Steven Spielberg's just (groan) remade it; I shan't be rushing to see that.]
For young Stephen Sondheim, this was a spectacular debut indeed!
Without further ado, on with the show. It's a familiar and well-trodden plot - but with a plethora of tight-trousered gorgeous (and indelibly camp) boys, pretending to be members of macho street gangs, cavorting in Technicolor, what's not to like..?
Of course, its score is timeless (with typically Bernstein staccato notes balanced by Mr Sondheim's clever and complex lyrics), and birthed a number of classics...
[NB it was this version, from Lenny Bernstein's studio production of the score (see below) that spawned a famous French & Saunders skit]It's no wonder, really, that West Side Story is still consistently voted among the best musicals of all time.
RIP, Stephen Joshua Sondheim (22nd March 1930 – 26th November 2021)
[One of a series of tributes I will be posting to Mr Sondheim this week. Yesterday's "Sondheim of the Day" was Company.]
Chita, Rita and Bette! Oh, My! That is a lot of star power. Thanks. I am looking forward to everyone of these. BTW - A Little Night Music... I consider that his crowning achievement. Can't wait! Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteChita, Rita and Bette - triple threat, indeed! Jx
Deletea small note...Kiri and I worked at the same place though never together. I never met her, though I did know her parents.
ReplyDeleteAn my gods! Doesn't Rita Moreno hold up well!
Conversely, I have met Miss Moreno - and she was lovely! Jx
DeleteI’m going to come back tomorrow morning and listen to all of these, I love Westside Story.
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I never tire of hearing songs from it, either. Jx
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