West Side Story Stage Direction- Molly & Renua

The use of stage direction in “West Side Story” allows us as the audience to view the similarities between the two gangs and the need for unity. The stage directions allowed the audience to see the subliminal plot points. We are able to get insight on the past and see the foreshadowing of the future. In the opening scene and throughout the play dance is used to show the religious imagery. Many times the Jets and the Sharks execute a dance move that resembles Jesus on the cross. This shows how important religion was in both of the gangs past. The fact that both the groups are christian is important because it shows how people with the same ideals can hate each other. They are able to hate each other just because of a small difference, for example a skin color.During the scene in the gym, the audience is able to see the division between Tony, Maria, and the two gangs. The audience can see how Tony and Maria want the two gangs to be in unity. The dance demonstrates how the gangs and mingling without conflict. When both gangs take note of Maria and Tony the scene takes a turn and the gangs resume to being divided with the jets on the left and Sharks on the right. In the dream/heaven sequence, the audience sees a unity of the Jets and Sharks. In that one scene there is no longer race or a feud. The characters that died, Riff and Bernardo, are held up and then fall into the arms of a mixed group, people from both gangs. Then Maria and Tony are held up, they then fall over in the same way Riff and Bernardo did. They circle each other and reach out to show that there is too much separating the gangs for them to be together. The only way they will be together is in heaven. The main point of the stage direction used in this scene was to show how silly the feud was, and that if the two gangs didn’t hate each other, no lives would have been lost. Overall the stage directions show how the two gangs compare to one another and how they contrast. As the audience we are able to see the need for an alliance and peace.

Questions:

1. How could the stage directions be changed in Act 3.2 to show the importance of the ring that is given to the nurse from Juliet?

2. In Act III scene iii, How would you show the unity of Romeo and Juliet after they are married and consummated? How would you show Juliet is no longer shows a connection with her mother, and she relies mostly on Romeo?