Anew international touring production of the classic Broadway musical "West Side Story" arrives in Bangkok today, with tickets for all eight shows selling fast.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation, musical director and conductor Donald Chan and lead actor Brian Hissong share what's in store.

Asked why this 49-year-young musical remains one of the world's most popular, Chan credits "the story, the music and the wonderful dancing".

"When it first came out in 1957, it was held as a 'landmark' because of the music, dance and drama," he says. "Also, it's very realistic. It was the first production that had death being seen on the stage. And it's the quality of music that has lasted for so long - its 50th year is coming up and yet it's still very popular".

"What makes our production stand out," Hissong adds, "are the powers that are in charge. Mr Chan here is coming up with the 2,000th performance of it [on Friday, right here in Bangkok].

"The score is so complicated and so rich, and we have a great orchestra. Also, our director [two-time Tony Award nominee] Mr Joey McKneely has recreated [Tony-winning] Mr Jerome Robbins' choreography, which he learned directly from Mr Robbins.

"And also, the integrity that Mr Chan demands that we uphold in our performances, and the realism of the situation, and the inner emotion."

Chan has been conducting "West Side Story" since 1985, and yet it's never become routine.

"It's a musical that's not like any other," he says. "The music has all sorts of things - Latin, jazz, classical, etc. It spans the whole spectrum. It keeps me occupied all the time and keeps my interest going. It's so well orchestrated that you can hear something different all the time.

"Also, it comes to a point that I'm like an educator because of the fact that we [Joey and I] always have young performers who don't stay with us very long. They may get to a point where they're riding on auto-pilot, so we have to say 'Hey, this is not the way to do it. You have to make sure that you're in the moment all the time'."

For Bangkok - along with the cast of 36 American, Canadian and British singers, dancers and actors - Chan is bringing professional musicians who will play eight different instruments and be joined by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, comprised mainly of Mahidol University music professors. 

With set, costume, lighting and sound designs by Europe's leading theatre artists, this production was originally conceived by McKneely and Chan for a limited run at Milan's La Scala in 2000 - the first musical staged at the famed opera house.

Chan says he's done little to alter Leonard Bernstein's music and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics.

"The original music is always the best. We took the overture out because in the original production, Leonard Bernstein was asked to do an overture -which he did not want to do. So we went back to the 'original' original and start with the famous call."

BB Promotions mounted the international touring production in 2003. It's been across Europe and Asia, and talks are underway to take it to Broadway next year for the 50th anniversary.

Critical acclaim has greeted the show wherever it's played. Its premiere in Frankfurt, Germany, prompted the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to call it "more novel than many others that are only a couple of years old".

"A magnificent piece of work," the Wiesbadener Kurier agreed. "Emotional and yet free from the rubbish or soap-opera attitudes so plentiful in Lloyd-Webber."

"Make sure to get a ticket while you can," Hissong advises Bangkokians, "because we have some of the best performers in the world. Our dancers are incredibly athletic, sexy, versatile and amazing. The singing is gorgeous and the acting is honest and real."

"Even Stephen Sondheim has the poster of the La Scala production in his house," Chan says.

"West Side Story" is at the Thailand Cultural Centre tonight through Sunday. Showtime is 7.30pm, with 2.30 matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets cost Bt1,000, Bt2,000, Bt3,000, Bt4,000 and Bt5,000 at Thaiticketmaster.

To learn more about the musical, visit WestSideStory.com, and about this version, BB-Promotion.com.

Pawit Mahasarinand    

The Nation

Contact the writer at Pawit.M@chula.ac.th.