Actor George Chakiris, who stars in the upcoming Old Globe production of "In Your Arms" (opening Sept. 16), was in San Diego in August for a screening of "West Side Story," the final film in the Globe's summer Shakespeare film series.
"West Side Story" screened outside at the Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival stage. A perfect setting for a film that innovatively choreographed dances outside on New York City streets.
"We may not have thought about it at the time but shooting on real locations did feel different probably than it would have if we were shooting it on a set created in the studio," Chakiris told me by phone last week.
Chakiris won an Oscar for best supporting actor for playing Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican street gang The Sharks in "West Side Story." The film offers a modern re-telling of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," updating the tragic romance to contemporary New York where the divisions occur between ethnic communities and street gangs. Chakiris says the film has endured as a classic for more than fifty years and still connects with audiences because prejudice is still alive and well.
"I think it’s one of the reasons we can relate to West Side Story because that’s a very important part of the story and what happens in the film and the theme of the film. And everybody can relate to that today, it’s always here. Always here," Chakiris said.
Listen again to the lyrics in the song "America," you probably remember how energetic the music and dance were but you may not remember that the lyrics had a sting to them and reflect the kind of prejudice that sadly still exists in the U.S. for the immigrant community.
GIRLS
I like to be in America
Okay by me in America
Everything free in America
BERNARDO
For a small fee in America
ANITA
Buying on credit is so nice
BERNARDO
One look at us and they charge twice
ROSALIA
I have my own washing machine
INDIO
What will you have though to keep clean?
ANITA
Skyscrapers bloom in America
ROSALIA
Cadillacs zoom in America
TERESITA
Industry boom in America
BOYS
Twelve in a room in America
ANITA
Lots of new housing with more space
BERNARDO
Lots of doors slamming in our face
ANITA
I'll get a terrace apartment
BERNARDO
Better get rid of your accent
ANITA
Life can be bright in America
BOYS
If you can fight in America
GIRLS
Life is all right in America
BOYS
If you're all white in America
In Your Arms serves up ten musical numbers – each in a different style of music and dance -- but it is not a revue show or a standard stage musical. And even though there are famous writers like Terence McNally and Carrie Fisher, you never hear a single line of spoken dialogue. This piqued my curiosity. How does brand new work like this actually come together, does it start with the written word, the music, or with an idea for a dance. Composer Stephen Flaherty said it was a highly collaborative process… Christopher Gattelli is the choreographer and director. George Chakiris is one of the dancers in the framing number and by casting him Gattelli also gets decades of experience that make the role of an older dancer all the richer. To appreciate what Chakiris brings to the stage, I spoke with him about his career and life long love of dance.
