The hype around Stratford all summer has been Stratford Shakespeare Festival‘s hit production of West Side Story. This is a show I’m sure you’re all familiar with, for all intense purposes the show is a musical version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This time the rivals are the Sharks and Jets two gangs and the lovers are Tony and Maria. A couple of songs from the show are America, Cool, Tonight and I Feel Pretty.
Before I get very far into my thoughts of West Side Story I should say that I’m not huge fan of the show, the song I Feel Pretty is enough make someone want to inflict pain on themselves. With that said for West Side Story is this is a good production. It’s far from the greatest show ever done at Stratford, unlike some of the reviewers are saying, this year alone I would say A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is better. Paul Nolan and Chilina Kennedy are both fabulous as the leads in this show. The balcony scene is wonderful especially when Nolan pulls himself up the side of balcony for their big kiss.
The show has been getting so much attention that a commercial was made:
I had the opportunity to be a shadow for the show last night and it was a wonder experience. I got to spend the night with stage management during the run of the show. Because of my involvement with theatre as a stage manager I was really looking forward to doing that. It was a great experience.
That's the Book! 
I actually saw this yesterday. And I loved it, though would agree that while it’s good, it’s not the best show the festival has put on.