West Side Story Script Analysis

Before looking at the contemporary version of the show (West Side Story UK tour 2013/2014), I made some analysis of the script in order to separate the director's vision in the modern show from basic requirements which the script suggests."The more complete a designer's analysis of the script is before the collaborative process begins, the more flexible that designer can be in the process of creating the physical production"(Ingham,R., Covey, L., 1993)

Reading through the script I collected some notes which give important information about he story and added some comment:

In the begining of the script are stated the place and the period of the year. These fact gives imformation about costumes.

Notes: "The action takes place on the West side of New York City during the last day of the summer"

The Script gives precise information about the situation about the two gang. It is a rivalry between the locals, Americans, and the imigrants - Puerto Rican. Their age group also is directly mentioned but at the same time implied by definitions such as "vital, restless, sardonic"

Notes: "It is primarly a consideration of the growing rivalry between two teenage gangs, The Jets and The Sharks, each of which each of which has its own pridefull uniform. The boys - side-burned, long-haired - are vital, restless, sardonic; The Sharks are Puerto Ricans, The Jest are anthology of what is called 'American'."

The text also gives detailed information about the personality of each character.

 Notes: "Schrank is strong, always in command; he has a charming pleasant manner which he often employs to cover his venom and his fear."

Type of characters:

• Protagonist - "Leading character, the mover, the one who wants, the one who incites action"(Ingham,R., Covey, L., 1993)
• Antagonist - "Stands in the way of what the protagonist wants"(Ingham,R., Covey, L., 1993)
• Lead - "advance from ignorance to knowledge, they go somewhere, they learn, they come to understand, they rise and fall, and, by doing what they do, they move the dramatic action forward."(Ingham,R., Covey, L., 1993)
• Support - "do one thing, exert one force, or express one unchanging point of view. Their stance quite literally support the actions of the leading characters, although that support often takes the form of resistance against what leading characters want."(Ingham,R., Covey, L., 1993)

In the script can find some some examples of the following types of characters. As typical protagonists can be described the two gangs leaders Bernardo and Riff. The also some dual characters such as Tony and Maria. Tony appeares in the story first as an antagonist because although he doesn't want to return in the gang, he does is. In the begining Maria is also willing to marry Chino only because of her brother's desicions. However the meeting of these two characters turns them into Protagonists. Chino also appears as antagonist then later when his best friend dies, he turns into protagonist.

The other members of the gangs are antagonists because they are listening to the leaders. However, an important fact while deviding these characters into chategories is their age. Teenagers in life are a lot more spontaneous, willing to action and taking risks and not afraid to fail in life.

As lead characters, can be described Tony and Maria, because they turn away they ideas and while doing that they add the dramatical change of the action.

On the other hand, the other characters follow a certain line of beliefs through the story which makes them support characters
The adult characters also antagonists and support characters at the same time.

References:

Ingham, R., Covey, L. 1993. The costume designer's handbook [book]. Portsmouth: Heinemann.