West Side Story

West Side Story is not an easy show to produce, requiring as it does triple-threat performers who can sing with an operatic range, dance as in the classical repertoire, and act. Professional companies have a hard time delivering on all these requirements, and for community theatre groups it’s even harder. It was a valiant try by SQUIDS but the youth and inexperience of the company defeated it.

Trent Sellars sang well as Tony, as did Jessica Soden as Maria. Jo Williams captured the Latin fire of Anita, Lachlan Geraghty was a believable Riff, as was Jimmy Morris’ Bernardo. All performers were hampered by an orchestra whose brass section was continually out-of-tune. Best song was “I Feel Pretty”, simply because it was the one where the brass had little to do.

Peter Pinne