2007年VOA标准英语-'West Side Story' Celebrates 50th Anniversary

By George Dwyer
Washington
18 September 2007
 

American musical theater celebrates a major anniversary in 2007. Fifty years ago this month - on September 26, 1957 - "West Side Story" opened on Broadway. Based on William Shakespeare's famous tragedy "Romeo and Juliet," "West Side Story" introduced a dramatically new approach to the music, dance motifs¹, and storytelling of a stage musical. For producer George Dwyer, VOA's Jim Bertel reports on the golden anniversary reprise of an authentic² American classic.

Set in the slums of New York City -- amidst the backdrop of 1950s-era ethnic³ gang warfare⁴ -- "West Side Story" revolutionized American musical theater.

"In 1957 when it came out it was unlike anything that had ever been seen before," says Nathan Scherich, who co-stars in an anniversary production of the now-legendary musical. He plays Tony, a young gang member who yearns⁵ for a better life. "He wants out of the gang. He knows there is something else going on in life rather than gangs. And he does not know quite what it is but then he gets to the dance at the gym and sees Maria for the first time that that is what he has been looking for."

Actress Sarah Darling plays Maria. "She is a very young girl who has just moved to America -- she has only been here for a month -- and she comes from a very protective family - over-protective really. And so she is just really anxious to grow up and experience life in America."

The exuberance⁶ of that life is portrayed⁷ in "West Side Story." But what made the show so innovative⁸ when it premiered 50 years ago was its depiction⁹ of urban slum life in a series of song and dance numbers the likes of which had not been seen before on the American stage.

Darling enthusiastically says, "The music is so amazing. It is the best there is in musical theater, so the music will get you as well."

The songs in "West Side Story" have left a deep mark on American culture. And today, half-a-century after it was first staged, the production still has the power to connect with audiences.

Scherich remarks, "People are touched in different ways. Some of them are mad at the end, some of them are sad. I mean, it affects people in different fashions."

Darling adds, "A lot of times in musical theater you end the show and everyone is just, 'Yea!' happy and excited.  [But] in this one their joy and their applause come from a place of being deeply moved. That's really rewarding for me, and, hopefully, for them as well."

Credit for that goes partly to Shakespeare, of course -- his genius framed the basic story. But the combined genius of American masters in music, dance, and theater production are what make "West Side Story" a modern-day classic of unique and enduring delight.

1 motifs   

n. （文艺作品等的）主题( motif的名词复数 )；中心思想；基本模式；基本图案

参考例句：

• I try to develop beyond the old motifs. 我力求对传统的花纹图案做到推陈出新。 来自辞典例句
• American Dream is one of the most important motifs of American literature. “美国梦”是美国文学最重要的母题之一。 来自互联网

2 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

5 yearns   

渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Every man yearns for sympathy in sorrow. 每个遇到不幸的人都渴望得到同情。
• What I dread is to get into a rut. One yearns for freshness of thought and ideas. 我害怕的就是墨守成规。人总是向往新思想和新观念的。

6 exuberance   

n.丰富；繁荣

参考例句：

• Her burst of exuberance and her brightness overwhelmed me.她勃发的热情和阳光的性格征服了我。
• The sheer exuberance of the sculpture was exhilarating.那尊雕塑表现出的勃勃生机让人振奋。

7 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

9 depiction   

n.描述

参考例句：

• Double rhythms, resounding through the lyric depiction and connecting with each other, indicate the thespian place of mankind and the cognition of the writer to this thespian place. 这双重旋律互为表里，表明了人类的某种悲剧性处境以及作家对这种悲剧性处境的感受和认识。
• A realistic depiction of scenes from everyday domestic life. 日常家居生活的写实画。