History Theatre / WestSideStory

* KnifeFight: The rumble winds up devolving into one of these between the two gang leaders with switchblades, and it ends with both of them dead.

* KnifeFight: The rumble winds up devolving into one of these between the two gang leaders, and it ends with both of them dead.

Originally a 1957 Broadway [[TheMusical musical]] presented by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince and directed by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Music/LeonardBernstein and lyrics by Music/StephenSondheim. It is notable for boasting some of the most famous songs in musical theater, such as "Tonight", "America", and "I Feel Pretty". Two [[TheFilmOfThePlay film adaptations]] were made, [[Film/WestSideStory1961 one released in 1961]] and [[Film/WestSideStory2021 the other in 2021]].

The year 2020 was set to be a landmark for the show, though it was marred by the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. In February 2020, a Broadway revival was staged (the first in more than a decade) by avant-garde director Creator/IvoVanHove, who, for the first time, incorporated entirely original new and modern choreography into the show. It stars Isaac Powell as Tony, Shereen Pimentel as Maria, and Yesenia Ayala as Anita. However, performances of the show were postponed indefinitely less than a month into its run due to the pandemic and sadly cancelled altogether even when Broadway theatres reopened.

* MassiveMultiplayerEnsembleNumber: "Tonight". The Jets and Sharks whip themselves into a frenzy in order to prepare for a brutal end to their feud with a brawl, while Tony and Maria sing about how that same night will be the greatest night of their lives as they prepare to escape the violence. [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers And then Anita is signing about getting laid after the fight]].

* GoneHorriblyWrong: ''Both'' times when Maria sends someone out on a noble errand, it backfires horribly. She asks Tony to go to the rumble to stop the fight, and he ends up killing her brother in a fit of rage. Later she sends Anita to convey a message to Tony, and in her rage at being almost raped, she deliberately mixes up the message, indirectly leading to Tony's death.

* DownerEnding: Sure, the fighting's over, but [[spoiler:Riff, Bernardo, and Tony]] are dead and [[spoiler:Chino]] is almost certainly going to prison. But come on, this was based off of ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'', so it was hard not to see that one coming. At least the ''West Side'' ending can be considered LighterAndSofter than the ''Romeo'' ending, since [[spoiler: Maria survives.]]

It may seem OlderThanSteam, with more than a [[StarCrossedLovers few elements]] that you will probably recognize from [[Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet other works]]. It is also a great example of SeinfeldIsUnfunny, with many modern audiences not understanding why it was such a groundbreaking musical in its time. It is recognized as the leader in using [[NewerThanTheyThink dance to further the plot]], thanks to the choreography of Jerome Robbins, and is also recognized for portraying minority characters ([[FairForItsDay relatively]]) positively, using vulgar language and slang, and [[DarkerAndEdgier not being a particularly feel-good musical]].

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* DiedInIgnorance: [[spoiler:Just barely subverted towards the end of play, but not soon enough to prevent the tragedy. Star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria plan to leave the city together. As Maria prepares to meet Tony at Doc's in order to put their plan in motion, she is detained by the police for questioning about her brother's death and thus sends Anita to tell Tony that she will be late. Unfortunately, Anita is intercepted by the Jets, who attempt to rape her in retaliation for the death of Riff, and she angrily declares that Maria isn't coming because Chino shot her dead. Despondent at the supposed loss of his love, Tony runs out and goads Chino into killing him... just before Maria shows up to [[DiedInYourArmsTonight hold him in her arms as he dies.]]

Originally a 1957 Broadway [[TheMusical musical]] presented by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince and directed by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Music/LeonardBernstein and lyrics by Music/StephenSondheim. It is notable for boasting some of the most famous songs in musical theater, such as "Tonight," "America" and "I Feel Pretty". Two [[TheFilmOfThePlay film adaptations]] were made, [[Film/WestSideStory1961 one released in 1961]] and [[Film/WestSideStory2021 the other in 2021]].

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler:Maria delivers this to both gangs after Chico fatally shoots Tony saying that every member played a part in all of the deaths because they created the sentiment that allowed it to happen]].

-->"Bernardo was right. If one of you was lying in the street bleeding, [[KickTheSonOfABitch I'd walk by and spit on you]]."

* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: In the original play, the Nurse is merely taunted and insulted by the Montagues and storms off angrily. Moreover, she doesn't lose anyone important to her beforehand. In the musical, Anita is nearly gang-raped by the Jets, adding to the trauma of her lover's death earlier that evening.

*** Riff=Mercutio

*** Action=Sampson
*** A-Rab=Abraham

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: The Nurse is implied to be overweight and unattractive, but Anita is young and pretty.

* AdaptationalAngst: In the original play, the Nurse is merely taunted and insulted by the Montagues and storms off angrily. Moreover, she doesn't lose anyone important to her beforehand. In the musical, Anita is nearly gang-raped by the Jets, adding to the trauma of her lover's death earlier that evening.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Tony successfully stops an all-out war with knives and guns, by suggesting that they merely have the strongest of the two sides fistfight. But then ''Maria'' objects even to this, saying that ''any'' fighting is bad, and although Tony can see it leading nowhere nice to stop them, he does it because he loves her. Fast-forward. Rather than a simple fistfight, three people (including Tony) are dead, one is arrested and will most likely be hanged for murder, the two gangs hate each other even more (until they reconcile), and Maria has to live with her grief.

*** Tybalt killing Mercutio=Bernardo killing Riff
*** Romeo killing Tybalt=Tony killing Bernardo

*** Romeo's suicide=Tony begging Chino to kill him.

* FinalLoveDuet: The "Somewhere" reprise serves as an all-too-brief one as Tony lies mortally wounded in Maria's arms. Tony only manages to sing one line before dying, and Maria can't sing the final word when she realizes he's dead.

* MythologyGag: Tony and Maria's whirlwind romance seems ridiculous unless you recall that Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet took place over roughly the same time frame.

*** The nurse being taunted by the Montagues=Anita being assaulted by the Jets and thus lying about Maria's death, leading to Tony begging Chino to kill him.

%% * FinalLoveDuet: "Somewhere" reprise.

* FriendlyAddressPrivileges: Only Bernardo's sister can call him 'Nardo. For Tony of all people to address him so familiarly is a BerserkButton.

%% * ParentalAbandonment: Heavily implied with Riff.
* PetTheDog: No character - [[AllLovingHero even Tony]] - gives [[ButtMonkey Anybodys]] the time of day, but once Ice takes over the Jets, he treats her like any other member and calls her "buddy boy", a phrase Riff only ever used with fellow gang members. Anybodys' face lights up.

%% * TheSongBeforeTheStorm: "Tonight", which happens right before a MobWar.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: Juliet and Paris both die in ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'', but their respective counterparts, Maria and Chino, survive here.
* SpicyLatina: Anita's hot temper, in line with all the stereotyping.
* StaggeredZoom: Onto one of the youngest Jets as he's painting "Sharks Suck" onto a wall, right before the Sharks catch him.

** Riff laughs at Bernardo's request for Lieutenant Schrank to translate his dressing-down into Spanish.