The new revival of “West Side Story” is so much more exciting, more powerful and engaging than the previous Lyric Opera of Chicago’s bland production of 2019. This time, Lyric has restaged the musical into a mesmerizing presentation that fully lives up to expectations.
Although the show opened on Broadway in 1957, it not only continues to captivate but it still resonates with us today. That it doesn’t feel dated could be due to the fact that human nature, as Shakespeare proved, doesn’t change. His “Romeo and Juliet” was beloved by audiences of his time, and the story of the two star-crossed lovers continues to appeal as well to audiences of our own time….