Theatre Preview
Eleanor Pearson 1 November 2015 Gang Warfare Comes to the ZenithTwo adolescent star-crossed lovers meet against a backdrop of racially fuelled gang violence. From the outset it doesn’t sound like a journey that will end well. But actor Anthony Levin wants audiences to know Chatswood Musical Society’s West Side Story is more than just a tragic love story.
“I hope audiences come out of the theatre having had a rollicking good time. They will have laughed, cried, felt touched, and a bonus would be if they also left reflecting on ways subtle and even overt bigotry permeates our society.” |
West Side Story
Season Starting: Friday, 13th of November (click on "Upcoming Events" for exact times.) Address: Zenith Theatre Railway Street & McIntosh Street, Chatswood NSW 2067 |
For the 33-year-old Randwick resident, and human rights lawyer, playing leading man, Tony, has meant drawing on personal experience both first and second-hand.
Like his character, Tony, Levin understands the migrant experience (he is second-generation Australian, with Slovak heritage). Unlike Tony, Levin had a comfortable, middle-class upbringing.
Like his character, Tony, Levin understands the migrant experience (he is second-generation Australian, with Slovak heritage). Unlike Tony, Levin had a comfortable, middle-class upbringing.
However, in his job with Legal Aid NSW, Levin has worked with disadvantaged clients, many of them refugees, and said this enabled him to also vicariously draw upon their personal experience, and to relate to the minority perspective.
“For me, the concept of an inter-racial union is symbolic and very important. It’s about broader society accepting difference… Society is still facing these issues. The persecuted minority just shifts.” For Levin, the musical score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is a vital clue to the overall success and longevity of West Side Story, which originally hit the Broadway stage in 1957. “It’s my most favourite music in the world. For me to share it with audiences is an unbelievable privilege and a dream come true,” Levin said. “West Side Story has lots of different music genres: Latin, jazz, orchestral - it’s an amazing hybrid musical landscape which appeals to different tastes,” he added. |
In this stage production, Levin said director Chapin Ayres wanted the acting “to shine as much as the musical side.”
“It’s easy for the Romeo and Juliet story to be eclipsed by the music,” Levin said.
Levin said despite the serious over-arching themes of racial tolerance, forbidden love, disadvantaged youth, and gang violence, the story allowed space for humour and fun. Songs such as Gee, Officer Krupke! are meant to offer comic relief in the midst of tragedy.
“Audiences shouldn’t be afraid to laugh.” Levin said.
When not playing a star-crossed lover, Levin is himself no stranger to comedy. He is a long-time member of the comedy troupe, Nice Guys Productions, and said a highlight of his acting career was performing with them at the 2006 Melbourne Comedy Festival.
West Side Story plays November 13-21, 2015
“It’s easy for the Romeo and Juliet story to be eclipsed by the music,” Levin said.
Levin said despite the serious over-arching themes of racial tolerance, forbidden love, disadvantaged youth, and gang violence, the story allowed space for humour and fun. Songs such as Gee, Officer Krupke! are meant to offer comic relief in the midst of tragedy.
“Audiences shouldn’t be afraid to laugh.” Levin said.
When not playing a star-crossed lover, Levin is himself no stranger to comedy. He is a long-time member of the comedy troupe, Nice Guys Productions, and said a highlight of his acting career was performing with them at the 2006 Melbourne Comedy Festival.
West Side Story plays November 13-21, 2015
Performers and Crew
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Chapin Ayres
Kane Wheatley Stephanie Edmonds |