STAGE REVIEW : Teens Come On Like Gangbusters : Energetic Sharks and Jets of ‘West Side Story’ Find Their Turf in Timely Brea Production

When casting local teen-agers for “West Side Story,” producer Janice Kraus had a double-edged hook: not only could the youths perform in one of America’s best-loved musicals, they could do it in a theater that’s just steps away from a major mall.

It worked. Kraus and director Cyndi Mitchell have assembled a cast that, despite the relative inexperience, does an admirable job with a show that can bring less disciplined performers to their knees.

“West Side Story,” with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, continues through Sunday at the Curtis Theatre in the Brea Civic and Cultural Center.

The production marks the debut of the Brea Young Actors’ Theatre. Designed for actors age 13 to 19, the company is an offshoot of Kraus’ Stagelight Family Productions, which casts younger children in the city-sponsored Youth Theatre series.

“West Side Story,” set in 1957, depicts the tensions between a pair of rival gangs battling over turf on New York City’s West Side. The stakes are raised when Tony, an Anglo teen associated with the Jets, falls in love with a Puerto Rican girl, Maria, sister to Sharks leader Bernardo. Violence erupts, permanently changing the lives of everyone involved.

What year did we say this was?

“West Side Story” is a show that demands as much from its ensemble as it does from its leads, and this cast is generally up to the challenge.

At Saturday’s performance, such sassy numbers as “America” and “Gee, Officer Krupke!” were delivered with unflagging energy. The cast’s vocal quality ranged from adequate to surprisingly good, although the youths often found themselves battling an overly loud and sometimes muddy recorded score. Dance numbers, while not always razor sharp, were high-spirited, even athletic, as in the Jets and Sharks combat scenes.

Jim Rizza as the Jets’ Action was a standout among the supporting cast. Well-muscled and with a mane of sweat-streaked curls, Rizza was the gang’s designated wild man, spending most of the 2 1/2-hour show pacing the stage like a caged animal ready to strike. Nicely contrasting this was Peter E. Koehler’s Riff, a comparatively low-key guy who depends more on his wits than his fists. Juan-Carlos Parra and David A. Kater played Sharks Bernardo and Chino, and Kater’s haunting rendition of “Somewhere” was one of the show’s musical high points. Jamie Jacoby sizzled as Bernardo’s headstrong girlfriend, Anita.

Lovers Maria and Tony were played by Ryella Robinson (Laurie Woelfel alternates in the role) and Alan Anderson. At 28, Anderson is one of this cast’s senior citizens and, based on his sure-footed performance, it sees he has had more stage experience than the younger cast members. The teen-age Robinson contributed a certain sweetness to the mix, but her gentle voice was often eclipsed in the lovers’ duets.

‘West Side Story’

A Brea Young Actors’ Theatre production of the play by Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). Produced by Janice Kraus. Directed by Cyndi Mitchell. With Peter Koehler, Alan Anderson, Jim Rizza, Juan-Carlos Parra, David A Kater, Ryella Robinson, Laurie Woelfel, Jamie Jacoby, Darrell Baker and Tony Grande. Choreography: Kevin Calvin. Musical direction: Jill Grande-Goodsell. Set: Gene Bennett, Kevin Clowes and Frank Rich. Costumes coordinated by Janice Kraus. Lighting: Jeffrey Warner. Performances Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea. $7 to $9. (714) 990-7723.