Snappy 'West Side Story' shows Village in peak form

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Dig this, daddio: You can add to the Seattle area's spring bounty of gratifying musicals Village Theatre's bracing new edition of "West Side Story."

A seamlessly integrated blend of high-octane dance, near-operatic music and jazzy sociology, "West Side Story" is not a musical you want to see mangled - or performed at half-throttle by the well-meaning but ill-equipped.

When you're a Jet or Shark, you gotta be a Jet or Shark all the way - from your first finger-pop, to your last dying tour jeté.

Director Steve Tomkins (the Village's artistic chief) has, characteristically, molded a gifted, eager young cast into a savvy, unified ensemble that makes this classic tuner - set on Manhattan's mean '50s streets - sizzle and pop.

"West Side Story" Book by Arthur Laurents, score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. At Village Theatre, Issaquah through June 24. Also at Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett, July 6-22. $8-$40. 425-392-2202 or 206-292-ARTS.

Don't expect Tomkins' make-believe gangbangers to kick as high or pirouette as tightly as the cast of the first-class 1995 touring revival of "West Side Story," which visited the Paramount Theatre with the thrilling dances of original director-choreographer Jerome Robbins intact.

But Tomkins and co-choreographer Crystal Dawn Munkers keep things moving and grooving with less complex yet exhilarating rumbles and gym raves. Dance highlights include a simmering "Cool" (the ultimate teenage frustration-fest), and a skirt-swishing, flamenco-accented "America" that's hot and sassy.

The main roles in Arthur Laurents' adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" (which is much-enriched by Stephen Sondheim's great lyrics) have been cast well from local ranks.

As Tony, Cheyenne Jackson is challenged by a few vertigo-high notes in Leonard Bernstein's glorious score. But Jackson is a very handsome guy with an attractive voice, whose heartfelt portrayal registers strongly.

His Polish-American Romeo meshes well with Seema Sueko's Maria, the Puerto Rican Juliet. Sueko is a petite charmer with sturdy soprano pipes. Her girlish comic flair brightens "I Feel Pretty." And her sweetness blends dreamily with Jackson's in the ecstatic "Tonight" and "One Hand, One Heart" duets.

Anna Lauris is a lusty, dishy Anita, sashaying around in Jeanne Arnold's vibrant costumes. Richard Sloniker gives a stiffer, less confident account of Anita's paramour, Sharks leader Bernardo, but he sure looks the part.

The real find here is Benjamin Schrader, a Riff with a wily, wiry presence and an excellent singing voice. Also enhancing the Jets camp are Mark Meyers' spirited Action and Vicki Noon's spunky Anybodys.

Edie Whitsett's vivid tenement-and-fire-escape sets, beautifully lighted by Greg Sullivan, frame the show well and are whisked off and on efficiently.

For arguably the finest Broadway musical score ever, one wishes conductor Bruce Monroe had a larger and more uniformly expert orchestra at his command.

Still, Monroe makes the most of what he has, and maintains a snappy tempo that suits this exuberant "West Side Story" - an example of the Village Theatre at its best.