Jan. 20, 2025

Romeo and Juliet vs. West Side Story: A Tale Told in Tarot

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Romeo and Juliet illustrations by H.C. Selous; West Side Story photos from HGO's 2018 production (photo credit: Lynn Lane)

Compare the key players and plot points of West Side Story with its theatrical basis, Romeo and Juliet. As in Shakespeare’s 1597 tragedy, a pair of doomed lovers from feuding factions are dealt an ill-fated hand.

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THE SCENE

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story
Verona, Renaissance Italy Manhattan's Upper West Side, 1950s

 

 

THE HOUSEHOLDS

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

The Capulets vs. the Montagues

Rival families, divided by an "ancient grudge"

The Sharks vs. the Jets

Rival gangs, divded by hate and prejudice

 

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THE STAR-CROSS'D LOVERS

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

Romeo and Juliet

Fall in love at the Capulet's ball and meet later on Juliet's balcony

Tony and Maria

Fall in love at the gymnasium dance and meet later on Maria's fire escape

 

 

THE HOTHEADS

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

Tybalt and Mercutio

Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, kills Romeo's best friend, Mercutio; Romeo kills Tybalt

Bernardo and Riff

Maria's brother, Bernardo, kills Tony's best friend, Riff; Tony kills Bernardo

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THE SUITOR

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

Paris

Juliet's father forces her to marry Paris; Romeo kills Paris in the final scene

Chino

Bernardo pressures Maria to date Chino; Chino kills Tony in the final scene

 

 

THE CONFIDANTE

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

Nurse

Juliet's guardian and messenger

Anita

Maria's best friend, Bernardo's girlfriend

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THE WISEMAN

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

Friar Laurence

Romeo's advisor

Doc

Tony's boss

 

 

THE AUTHORITY

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story

Prince Escalus

A nobleman trying to keep the peace in his fair city

Lt. Schrank

A cop trying to keep the peace on his beat

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THE ELOPEMENT

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story
Friar Laurence marries Romeo and Juliet in secret Tony and Maria imagine their wedding day in the song "One Hand, One Heart"

 

 

THE POISON

 

Romeo and Juliet West Side Story
Romeo believes Juliet is dead because she takes a sleeping potion; he kills himself with poison Tony believes Maria is dead because Anita lies to the Jets; he kills himself by goading Chino to shoot him
about the author
Joe Cadagin
Joe Cadagin is the Audience Education and Communications Manager at Houston Grand Opera.