CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The cast of "West Side Story" fills the stage at the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center.
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Constricting era stretches cast
In staging a 50-year-old musical, some difficulty would be expected in capturing the tone of the era. The students presenting "West Side Story" at Kaimuki High School aren't sure what was more difficult -- understanding the race and class divisions that separated Tony and Maria, or getting into the constricting 1950s costumes.
'West Side Story'
Presented by Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center
» On stage: 7:30 p.m. today, tomorrow, next Friday and March 8; 3 p.m. March 9
» Place: Kaimuki High School Auditorium
» Tickets: $10, $5 children
», Call: 733-4913
» Note: Tonight is '50s night. The audience is invited to wear '50s-theme outfits.
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"Everything about my character is totally opposite from how I am," said Sara Maier, a lead dancer who portrays Velma in the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center production. "It was pretty hard for everyone to get into character. We're all pretty happy kids and we're not racist, so to get angry is pretty hard. A lot of the guys got scolded because they kept falling back into their personal comfort zone."
Ian Vahovich, who portrays lead character Tony, said it was difficult to understand the level of prejudice that kept the couple apart, "because it's something we don't go through today."
Director Peggy Anne Siegmund, the teachers and adults involved seemed to spare no detail in turning the production into a crash course in 1950s culture. The students were asked to research hairstyles, often using yearbook photographs from the era, as well as the minimal style of 1950s graffiti -- essentially limited to a palette of gray and black -- which now adorns the auditorium and curtains.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Lovers Maria and Tony played by Allison Chu and Ivan Vahovich in "West Side Story."
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Set designer M.J. Matsushita said the graffiti artists complained, "How could they work with these colors? They're so dull!"
In addition to the work of choreographer and instructor Deanna Luster and musical director Nanilisa Pascua, the students received input from Ramon Del Barrio, a Broadway actor and dancer who played Chino in the 30th-anniversary presentation of "West Side Story."
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Two rival gangs at a dance cause difficulties. Dani Yamamoto, left, and Cameron Olson, confront Gerald Mandac and Sara Maier.
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Having performed with the musical's original Anita, Chita Rivera, Del Barrio was perhaps the biggest taskmaster, but Vahovich, who's appeared in "Seussical" at the Kapolei Performing Arts Center and in the ensembles of Diamond Head Theatre's "You Somebody" and "Meet Me in St. Louis," appreciated his advice.
"It requires a lot of concentration, but if you pay attention and work hard, it's quite easy and it turns out good."
Marsha Nadalin of Marsha Nadalin Hair Salon at Kahala Mall attended rehearsals each week to cut hair and help the students create their makeup looks and hairstyles with rollers and clouds of hairspray.
The amount of labor involved was painful for students accustomed to going out without fussing about their appearance. Many of the boys had trouble keeping their shirts tucked in and wearing their pants at their waists instead of their hips.
Allison Chu, who plays Maria, said she didn't mind the soft crinoline skirt, but had trouble with false eyelashes that itched.
Maier said her grandmother is amused by the compassion she's experiencing after learning what 1950s teens went through. Some dresses in the production are so cinched that some of the girls have to wear corsets.
"I'd probably jump off a building if I had to live like that," Maier said.