West Side Story

A modern update of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Tony, a former member of the Jets, an American streetgang, falls in love with Maria whose brother Bernardo is leader of the Sharks, their Puerto Rican rivals. Neither of them care for the animosities between their two communities, but find themselves caught up in a world where their love for each other is unacceptable to either side. They plan to escape together, but before they are able to do so the simmering hatred within the neighbourhood breaks out in violence that leads to tragedy.

WARNING SPOILER!!! - Click here for Short Synopsis (Teaser)

Act I

In 1950's New York, a confrontation between two local street gangs, the Polish/American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, is broken up by the arrival of police Lt. Schrank and Sgt. Krupke. The policemen warn the gang members not to fight on their beat then order the Sharks to move on. The Jets leader, Riff, proposes a plan to settle which gang will have control of the neighbourhood by challenging the Sharks to a 'rumble' to settle the issue. He plans to issue the challenge to Bernardo, the Sharks leader, at the neighbourhood dance on neutral territory that evening. He also plans to convince Tony, the founder of the Jets, to join them. The other gangs members are unsure of Tony's loyalty since he no longer hangs out with them but Riff assures them that When You're a Jet it's a lifetime commitment. Tony is working at Doc's Drugstore when Riff arrives to persuade him to come to the dance and support the gang. Loyal to his friends, Tony agrees, although he wants no further part of gang life. He dreams of a better future and foresees that Something's Coming.

Nearby, newly arrived immigrant Maria is working in a bridal shop with Anita, the girlfriend of Bernardo. Maria is Bernardo's sister, who has just been brought over from Puerto Rico to join the family who plan to marry her to Chino, a local Puerto Rican boy. Maria is reluctant as she has no feelings for Chino but is excited about going to the neighborhood dance, her first, that evening. At the dance the kids from the two communities stay divided and there is tension between them. In spite of this, Tony and Maria's eyes meet and they are drawn together. They dance then embrace, enraging Bernardo who intervenes and orders his sister to go home. Riff confronts Bernardo and challenges him to a council of war at Doc's, which Bernardo accepts.

Leaving the dance, Tony is entranced and can think of nothing else but Maria, the beautiful girl he met that evening. He finds his way to her home and secretly meets her again on the fire escape outside her bedroom. The two profess their love for each other and reflect on the wonderful thing that has begun for them Tonight. Elsewhere, the other Puerto Rican girls discuss the merits of their new homeland. One of them misses Puerto Rico but the others insist how much better it is to be in America.

At Doc's, the Jets are getting fretful whilst waiting for the Sharks to arrive but Riff tells them to stay Cool. The Sharks arrive and Riff and Bernardo discuss weapons to be permitted to be used in the rumble. Trying to defuse the situation, Tony suggests a skin fight (no weapons) between one chosen 'champion' from each side. Riff and Bernardo agree. Bernardo will fight for the Sharks and believes his opponent will be Tony, who he hates from their earlier encounter, but the Jets choose Diesel to fight for them instead. They set a time and place for the fight, under the overpass, the next day after dark.

The following day, Lt. Schrank intercepts two of the Jets. He has heard about the rumble and tries to make them tell him where it is to be held, but to no avail. Tony goes to meet Maria after work at the bridal shop. Anita is still there and does not approve but she agrees to keep quiet. She leaves them alone but warns Maria not to be long. The two lovers dream of the future and plan to be married, becoming One Hand, One Heart. Tony tells her he is not going to the rumble, but she tells him he must - in order to stop it. Across the neighbourhood, all the young people are left anticipating the events that are to come Tonight [reprise].

The two gangs meet under the overpass. Tony arrives and tries to persuade them of the futility of fighting, and that they should try to get along. Bernardo will not listen, however, and taunts Tony, trying to provoke him to fight. Tony resists, but when he pushes Tony down Riff jumps in and a knife battle ensues. Riff gains the upper hand but before he can strike the killer blow Tony steps in and holds him back. Barnardo then takes advantage of the situation and stabs Riff whilst he is unprepared and vulnerable. Losing his composure over the killing of his friend, Tony then attacks Bernardo and kills him and a general mellee ensues. Sirens are heard and everybody scatters. Tony cannot move, shocked by what he has done. Tomboy Anybodies shakes him from his reverie, and they flee the scene.

Act II

In her bedroom, Maria has not yet heard about the fight and is chatting with her friends - Rosalia, Consuela, Teresita and Francisca. Maria is still in love and feeling euphoric (I Feel Pretty). But then Chino arrives and breaks the mood with news of Bernardo's death and that it was Tony who killed. Maria runs from her bedroom, and prays for it not to be true or for her life to be taken also. Tony finds her, and in her grief she pummels him with her fists until she eventually calms down and her love for him wins over. Together they dream of a different kind of world, Somewhere without violence where they can be together and everyone gets along.

On the street, two of the Jets are questioned by Sgt. Krupke. When they evade his questions he determines to take them to the station but they knock him down and run away. He chases after them, losing his cap and baton in the process. Escaping him, the two Jets circle back and join up with the rest of the gang, where they all make fun of the police and other authority figures (Gee,Officer Krupke). Anybodys arrives. As usual they try to shoo her away but she has news that Chino is searching for Tony with a gun. The Jets then spread out to find Tony and warn him.

A grieving Anita arrives at Maria's apartment. Tony sneaks away after arranging to meet Maria at Doc's so they can run away together. Maria unlocks the door and Anita enters. She realises that Tony has been there and asks in horror how she can love A Boy Like That who killed her brother, to which Maria responds that she loves him (I Have a Love). Anita accepts that Maria loves Tony as much as she had loved Bernardo, and warns her that Chino is intending to kill him. Lt. Schrank arrives to question Maria about the killings, wanting to know who she danced with that started it all. Maria asks Anita, in code, to go to Doc's and tell Tony to wait for her.

When Anita arrives at Doc's, the jets are outside and will not let her pass. They taunt her with insults which turn into physical abuse and she is almost raped before Doc emerges to stop the attack. In her anger, she changes her message for Tony, telling the gang that Chino has killed Maria because he found out about her and Tony. The Jets leave and Doc breaks the news to Tony who is heartbroken. Suicidal, he runs out calling for Chino to come and kill him as well. But then Maria arrives and Tony is overjoyed to see she is still alive. But just as they are reunited, Chino bursts in and fires, shooting Tony down. Distraught, Maria cradles her dying lover and reaffirms her love for him (Somewhere [reprise]). He dies in her arms as the two gangs gather around. Maria takes the gun from Chino and declares that hatred is what caused the deaths and she has enough hate to kill now too. But she breaks down and drops the weapon. The two gangs file away, their war is over.