I was watching West Side Story last night and I just have to say...

[JVS]

that the Jets seemed a bit swishy for a hardcore street gang that is involved in so many stabbings. Anybody have thoughts on the dynamics of either the Jets or the Sharks?

[mermaid]

1. Well, It IS A Musical!!

No real street gang would have such choreographed moves in real life. but is was a musical, and so they appear "swishy."

[Bluebear]

14. "is was a musical, and so they appear "swishy."

Oh come on, it's been a day here already, don't you start up lol.

[Spinzonner]

15. Oh yeah

what about those swishy lumberjacks in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" ?

[JVS]

16. Monty Python?

[oxymoron]

17. gotta be "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"

on edit: Actually they were pretty amazing athletes. That was some strenuous choreography.

[neebob]

2. No thoughts about dynamics, but

West Side Story freaks me out.

[JVS]

3. How does it freak you out?

[Skink]

4. When you're a jet you're a jet all the way.....

From your first cigarette till your last dieing day.

When you're a jet let them do what they can little boy you're a man little man you're a king.

Just the mere fact that this little guy named Lenny can write like this should scare the shit out of you. We dont get that nany Mozart's anymore.

[JVS]

5. I believe one is a Jet from womb to tomb also appears

This to implies that Jet membership is a predestined affair

[Skink]

7. Got a rocket in you're pocket...

Stay cooly cool man.

[JVS]

8. oogly ooh!

[Spinzonner]

10. Leonard Bernstein was the composer

Stephen Sondheim was the lyricist

[immoderate]

30. Sondheim did the lyrics.

Not to detract form Bernsteins brilliant score.

--IMM

[neebob]

28. The whole singing and dancing gang thing

and how tough they don't look. The disbelief is too strong to suspend.

[Spinzonner]

6. Well, Jerome Robbins, the choreographer

was bisexual as were many of the creative principals of the production. Not that that proves anything.

What is it that you would expect ?

[Skink]

9. Maria..I just met a girl named Maria...

And suddenly I've found how beautiful the sound....

[Spinzonner]

12. You should seriously consider

using the actual lyrics instead of inventing your own variation

[JVS]

22. I think it is fun to fake them

[MrModerate]

11. I think traditionally gangbangers don't sing that well either.

[JVS]

13. Yeah, and the whole Officer Krupke routine with the role-playing...

seemed extravagant

[Skink]

18. Dear officer Krumpke.....

I am fucking insane. Nuff said.

[JVS]

21. I gotta social disease, wicked pisser keen neato!

[mermaid]

23. I LOVE That Bit!!!

Dear Officer Krumpke, we're very upset
We never had the love every child oughta get
We ain't no delinquents. we're misunderstood
Deep down inside us we're no good
We're no good, we're no good, we're no god damn good...

LOL

Okay, okay...I know the line is we're no Earthly good...but I like "god damn" much better in that line.

[Skink]

19. Dear officer Krumpke.....

I am fucking insane. Nuff said.

[Skink]

20. Kruke..... Krumpe.. let's call the whole thing off.

:beer:

[MrModerate]

25. Many years ago, when I could simulate being a teenager . . .

I did WSS in several stock productions. "Krupke" ALWAYS brought the house down.

[saltpoint]

24. I like boys and girls who can dance in syncopation --

-- to Bernstein's score. I like to watch lithe flesh thrashing to the jagged rhythms of WEST SIDE STORY.

I love the dialogue -- lines like "Now dig this and dig it the most."

Females who can thrash in a street-themed knife-wielding musical like that aren't considered too "masculine," so I say let the males be such males as these.

The song "Maria" is a damned masterpiece.

[jdots]

26. ever notice Micheal Jackson stole all his moves

from West Side Story and James Brown ? generally musicals are aimed at frumps from Scarsdale who can afford the tickets.

[bigtree]

27. They might be swishy . . .

but its me who's always cried like a baby at the end. Swishy works for me. I love the whole damn movie.

[UTUSN]

29. & I Thought I Had to Wait for Lenny's Birthday (August) for This

[terrya]

31. You have to suspend belief when watching musicals.

No, in real life, gangs aren't going to be singing and dancing on the streets. People don't break out into song in real life.

And as for the "swishy" comment...yes, the 4 genuiues involved in this masterpiece were either gay or bisexual...Leonard Bernstein was bisexual, Jerome Robbins, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents were/all gay. I personally don't think that the 4 of them didn't consciously infuse a gay sensibility into "West Side Story". That's my opinion.

I don't read anything into any dynamics of the Jets or the Sharks. Other than "West Side Story" is one of the most amazing collaboritve projects ever created. A true landmark in the history of the American theater.

[Misunderestimator]

32. I break out into song all the time... :)

Good post, btw ... and Rita Moreno.... Grrrrrrooooooowl.

[terrya]

34. Well, truth be told, I do, also...and that's why I always get a seat...

by myself on the El. :-)

Well, let's talk about George Chakaris, as well...YUM.

Thanks, sweetie
T

[Spinzonner]

35. Interestingly enough

George Chakiris (as one might guess from his name) is Greek and he before the movie he played in West Side Story on the stage in Britain and he played one of the Jets - Biff.

I guess the British are easier to fool about ethnicity than Americans :-0 ???

[Spinzonner]

36. By all accounts Jerome Robbins was bisexual

but I'm not qualified to argue the psychological and gay-correctness aspects of such labelling.

[LSdemocrat]

33. What the hell does "swishy" mean? Never heard that term before.