Trinity Musical Theatre Society present their first stage production this week at O’Reilly Hall in Belvedere College. Taking on the Broadway and West End classic West Side Story, the impressive cast of 56 first-year to fourth-year students handle the difficult score and infamously intricate dance scenes with ease, securing the society’s status as a force to be reckoned with in their many productions to come.
O’Reilly Hall, which has been home to the Trinity Vincent de Paul Society’s (VDP) annual panto for the last number of years, proves to be the perfect venue for the musical retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, providing the cast with ample space for the musical’s demanding dance routines. Scaffolding provides the majority of the set for most of the show, giving an industrial feel to the stage. Simple and effective screens and staging feature throughout the performance also, particularly in scenes based in the bridal shop and diner.
The costumes effectively transport the audience to a different era, allowing them to easily distinguish between the “Jets” and the “Sharks”, and enhancing each of the dance routines. However, it is the choreography team and their work that stand out as deserving of endless praise. The team is made up of Abbie O’Neill, Michael Burns, Tamsin Greene-Barker and Alicia Newton and their work somehow rivals the choreography of professional stage productions, particularly in America, Somewhere and the school dance. The Puerto Rican accents of the Sharks amongst a predominantly Irish cast were also a pleasant surprise, really immersing the audience further into the story.
In its first year the society has managed to secure a stellar cast, boasting hundreds of cumulative credits to their names. Stand out performances come from Katie Clarke as Anita, who’s hilarious performance of “America” is enough to have any audience in stitches, while Josh Hurley and Lainey O’Sullivan’s beautiful rendition of “Tonight” as Tony and Maria creates a heartbreakingly palpable chemistry that leaves the audience rooting for the tragic couple. If the ill-fated romance is all a bit too much, however, Cormac Henry’s performance as Officer Krupke provides the comic relief needed, and lends to a gleeful performance of “Gee Officer Krupke” from the Jets.
Speaking to The University Times, Trinity Musical Theatre Society’s Chair, Mairéad Hughes, expressed her gratitude to the cast and crew of the show: “The cast have worked so hard, the rehearsals have been endless and they’ve been so dedicated, it’s been incredible. I’m really excited to see their work pay off.” She hopes that the production will make a lasting impression on audiences, “for our reputation as Trinity Musical Theatre Society”.
The show’s director, Séimí Campbell, emphasised what a big undertaking a show like West Side Story is. “It’s a huge production, West Side Story. The amount of dancing in it, the music is insane, and it’s just such a huge story to tell, but the cast have just been incredible and have worked so hard.”
West Side Story is running Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week in the O’Reilly Theatre at 7.30pm each night. It truly is a show not to be missed.
