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La Comedia's 'West Side Story' packs a rumble
Dinner theater's version is a bit confined, but skilled performances are a big reason for its success.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
SPRINGBORO — Fifty-one years after it opened on Broadway, "West Side Story" still has what it takes to jolt a first-time audience member.
A teenaged boy watching the Friday, May 10, performance at La Comedia Dinner Theatre reacted spontaneously several times, most audibly when Chino (Christofer Roseberry) shot Tony (Joel Halstead) late in the show.
Extras
You still don't see that every day.
Less than a dozen performan-
ces into a two-month run, the production directed and choreographed by Kevin P. Hill was vigorous, wonderfully danced and nicely sung, although Leonard Bernstein's music cries out for an orchestra.
The unit set doesn't serve all scenes. The "Dance at the Gym" was confined, but the "Tonight Quintet" with Tony, Maria (Kim Willes), Anita (the noteworthy Amy Desiato), Riff (Shawn Beck-Gifford) and Bernardo (the convincing Justin Flexen) crackled with focused vibrancy.
Except for Mike Dale as Action, the Jets were too bland to threaten the Sharks. Willes was a wonderfully determined Maria, but the chemistry between her and Halstead's Tony seemed merely scripted.
The cast also includes Rhythm in Shoes dancer Tina de Alderete, "Mr. La Comedia" Charlie Goetz as Doc and Hannah Wilson, star of a recent national tour of "Dragon Tales Live."
Performances continue through June 29 on Wednesdays through Sundays at 765 W. Central Ave. Tickets are $47-$65 for adults, $25 for children 11 and younger. Call ((800) 677-9505 or (937) 746-4554.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
