Greeley – Saying a small- town dinner-theater musical is being staged by a bunch of neophyte college kids might not sound like a recommendation. But when the musical is “West Side Story” and the small town is Greeley, it most certainly is. Because that means the kids are students at the University of Northern Colorado, one of the most highly regarded undergraduate theater programs in the country.
How fortuitous for Raja and Cathy Salaymeh that their intimate Union Colony Dinner Theatre, now completing its second season, has a veritable teenage talent agency from which to pluck. Any graduating class from UNC today generally becomes the class of all our other stages tomorrow.
Union Colony is a classy joint on the second floor of a smartly renovated downtown brick building. There is a generous stage area and seating for 110 over three steep tiers, assuring immediacy and great sightlines for all. There’s no room or resources yet for a live orchestra, but every guest at every table is welcomed by an owner. The catered food isn’t much to brag about yet – and from a guy who could live blissfully on the buffet at the Country Dinner Playhouse, that’s saying something.
But the play is the thing, and director Cathy Salaymeh has produced the rare “West Side Story” that’s both age-appropriate and competently performed (if, say, ethnically confusing).
It would be easy to run down a checklist of this staging’s oddities and imperfections, but none prevents an emotionally affecting finale. Suffice to say the direction is in places unsophisticated, or perhaps just undemanding. You get the feeling these kids could handle much more in the way of character development and stage discipline – if only more was asked of them. On the flip side, ambitious choreographer Cole Emarine has given this cast of 25 all they can handle, and as a result the dancing is at times rough but more often thrilling.
An immediate problem is the need for a new sound system that won’t turn these outstanding voices into muffled tin. No one is seated more than 20 feet from the stage, so they might be better off turning the recorded music down and ditching those obtrusive and outdated body mics altogether.
That would allow unfiltered access to the terrific tenor of young Ryan Jesse as Tony and Briana Gassner as a refreshingly unripened Maria. As Tony, Jesse is a rare combination of youth, muscle and emotional vulnerability. And he nails all the toughies – “Something’s Coming,” “Maria” and, with Gassner, a poignant “One Hand, One Heart.” I felt for the kid, though, when his director made him wander the empty upper tier singing “Maria” alone, forcing anyone who actually was in attendance to turn around.
It was no surprise to later discover those who most excel all attend UNC – Jesse, Gassner, Jonathan Bray as a very young-
looking Riff, Brian Loveland as the fastburning fuse Action, Rikki James as Sharks leader Bernardo, Matthew Wirta as Chino, Andre Rodriguez as Baby John and Hillary Tae, who plays the tomboy Anybodys but shines brightest singing the “Somewhere” ballet solo. It’s the adults who are overmatched.
If anything, these kids just need to believe in themselves more and to find the ferocity of the piece. They’re better than even they seem to realize.
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
** 1/2 | “West Side Story”
MUSICAL|Union Colony Dinner Theatre, 802 Ninth St., Greeley|Directed by Cathy Salaymeh|Starring Ryan Jesse and Briana Gassner| THROUGH JUNE 18|7:45 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 1:45 p.m. Sundays (dinner 75 minutes before)|2 hours, 15 minutes|$32.95-$41.90| 970-352-2900, ucdinnertheatre.com
