THE OUTSIDERS – Book by Adam Rapp; Book and Music Lyrics by Justin Levine; Music by Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance; Directed by Danya Taymor; Choreography by Rick and Jeff Kuperman; Music Direction by Remy Kurs. Produced by The Araca Group (Presented by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Buell Theatre, 14th and Curtis, Denver) through September 27. Tickets available at 303-893-4100 or DenverCenter.org.
Based on the S.E. Hinton Young Adult novel published in 1967, you wouldn’t expect the story nearly 70 years later to have much relevance today. But the ongoing battle between the haves and the have-nots resounds with battleground noise even today. It doesn’t seem to matter where or when the battle is held (in this case, Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 60’s), the lines in the sand remain the same. The need for power on one side/the desire for calm on the other. The need to dominate on one side/the resistance to domination on the other. It filters down to money – possessions – prestige – a pretty girl.
In this case, the Greasers on the poor side of the tracks try to stand up to the Soc’s (for “Socials”), the richer kids on the other side. But both sides wait until they can get a single member of the other tribe alone and unprotected to “teach them a lesson” or “avenge a perceived wrong.” Which makes Sue Hinton’s book a fitting continuation to WEST SIDE STORY (1961) and a precursor to FOOTLOOSE (1984). Adam Rapp’s book for this later musical paints a modern mentality on a familiar story while maintaining the flavor of the era in which it was born.
I know already that one of my long-lasting memories of THE OUTSIDERS will be the creative way they integrated dance and staging to build the tension and present the street fights. As a fight sequence started (there were several), they were interrupted by a blackout in which the sounds of the battle continued heard but unseen. A ten-second flash of light and a freeze frame of the action brought you back into a visual blink – then another blackout as it continued. This technique left the audience aware of the mayhem progressing without having to watch it play out blow by blow. A truly brilliant way of conveying the brutality of the fight without imposing it on the audience. Using the combination of powerful background music (provided by an invisible 8-piece band), intense sound effects (designed by Cody Spencer), and sharp glimpses of the action (by Lighting Designer Brian MacDevitt), and you’ve got a truly heart-pounding war scene. One fight in Act Two even integrated rain into the powerful scene.
The Denver audience on opening night was blessed with Christian Arredondo (the understudy) as PonyBoy, the narrator and lead Greaser. Christian is one of the three actors who take the lead role on various nights. It’s hard to imagine anyone could have done it better. But each and every member of this hard-working cast is an incredible dynamic dancer, a blissfully talented singer, and an amazing actor. They work together like a well-tuned machine. It’s hard to pull any one in particular out of the cast to praise their work because they were all brilliantly integral to the telling of the story.
The score tells the story beautifully with songs that progress the narrative and emphasize the internal battles to find a place in the world and express the characters’ inner lives. The music is not just decorative; it is an integral part of telling the story and revealing the characters’ personalities. The only song that has gently risen from the score is Johnny’s advice to his friend PonyBoy to “Stay Gold.”
The dance is startlingly original, powerful, executed with clarity and strength. With a cast of 25 on stage in the bigger numbers, the dancers must move with precision and synchronicity, or someone will get hurt. They use every part of the stage to express their energy, anger, longing, and despair.
This is a dark, sad view of the world of these characters, which is hard to observe. Yet the loyalty to their people and the expression of a desire for a better world resonates with today’s watchers, bringing the sentiments home again and again.
Tickets will go fast. This one is worth it. Get one!
A WOW factor of 9!!