It was up to the production team of Lynne Gibb, Garry Gibb and Paul Gudgin to keep Kelty Musical Association’s reputation for top quality productions rolling on. Their 2010 offering is the eternally popular musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliette”, ‘West Side Story’. With a cast of 45 including Gary Gibb himself an orchestra of 15, conducted by Paul Gudgin and a crew of 22 the logistics are phenomenal. That is not mentioning the set design, lighting and costumes!!

If both cast and audience reactions are anything to go by the whole run will have been a great success. We are greeted by a view of an American neighbourhood with tags from two rival gangs adorning the buildings. The American Jets are lead by Riff (Gary Gibb), the Puerto Rican Sharks look to Bernardo (David Bain).  Bernardo has brought his whole family to America attempting to build a better future for them all, especially his younger sister Maria (Fiona McKenzie Barnes).  Taking Maria to her first dance, Bernardo little suspects the invitation to a war council that awaits him, nor that his sister will meet a young American boy Tony (Jason Roseweir) and fall in love.

The meeting is pre-empted by Tony who sings ‘Something’s Coming’, Jason’s clear powerful voice is displayed to full advantage, before joining with Fiona’s more operatic one, in ‘Tonight’ and ‘One Hand, One Heart’.  Despite Maria’s deception of her brother, Anita (Georgia Donaldson) his girlfriend, soon learns of the relationship and grudgingly gives her consent which changes resulting in the number ‘A Boy Like That’.  Anitas finest moment is seen during the show stopping number ‘America’ where the Sharkettes get to compare home with America.  The other show-stopping number is ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’ when the Jets get to have fun, Action (Kevin Reed),  Diesel (Steven Smyth), Snowboy (David Baxter), A-Rab (Richard Simpson), Baby John (Sam Forsyth), Big Deal (Derek Walker), Gee-Tar (Martin Rae) and token wanna-be Jet Anybodys (Lynne Donaldson) fool around adding humour to the show.

The big movement numbers during the show utilise every entrance and exit on stage. Scenes like the ‘Dance at the Gym’, the rephrase of ‘Tonight’, ‘The Rumble’ and the ‘Finale’ using every cast member must have been a bit of a nightmare to direct and choreograph but there was never any doubt as to which group was which.

The rephrase of ‘Tonight’ in particular utilised every inch of the stage and set, was totally in time and beautifully sung.

Yes, this is yet another success for Kelty Musical Association and I look forward to seeing ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ May 2011.