West Side Story, Sunderland Empire

When I first saw the original West End production of West Side Story (I must have been a babe in arms!) I remember a member of the audience remarking on how shockingly violent it was.

Set in fifties New York, it is Romeo and Juliet with our star-crossed lovers coming from opposing street gangs.

Leonard Bernstein's marvellous music is safe in the hands of a fine orchestra under musical director Robert Mitchell, patient in the face of early applause cutting them off in their prime. The trouble is, the singing is so good that people are keen to show their appreciation , and who can blame them?

The cast are young, energetic and well-schooled in the choreography, which is close to Jerome Robbins' original; sometimes full of pent-up anger and frustration, sometimes graceful and beautiful.

Emma Clifford walks off with the honours as Anita. She is funny, sexy, passionate, sings and dances up a storm and acts the socks off everybody else. When Anita finally concedes defeat to Maria in I Have A Love, there's not a dry eye in the house.

A special mention for Teesside lad Christopher Gage as Baby John an accomplished singer and dancer with a talent for comedy too.

It is hard to believe 'West Side Story' is over forty years old. It's still fresh, exciting, funny and moving all at once, and this production does it full justice.

A brilliant, brilliant night out.

Sue Heath

Running until Saturday, July 21. Box Office 0191-514 2517.