WEST SIDE STORY He's cool – and dangerous
When you’re a well-adjusted, positive, upbeat guy, how do you play a character who’s dangerous, mean, and full of hatred?
Year 13 student and Head of Arts and Culture Angus Mossman found out in a life-changing experience this year, when he landed the role of Riff in the College and Rangi Ruru Girls’ School production of West Side Story . Riff, the leader of the Jets, a New York gang fighting a turf war with the Puerto Rican Sharks, provides much of the menace and drama in this 1950s musical, which had a sell-out season in May. After two months of rehearsals he felt he had his role down,
“but it took a while to really connect with Riff. My character is nothing like his. Over time though Riff really grew on me, as the directors helped me to a level of understanding about someone who had no moral compass and no comprehension of where the line is. I realised my character was built on hatred.” When West Side Story was first announced as the 2018 production, Angus had never heard of it. “At the start I didn’t even know what West Side Story was – I
watched the film and thought it was boring. I didn’t know the music or the story – but then I saw Riff and felt I was capable of doing that role justice. I looked into his lines and role, his songs, enthusiasm and energy – he was ready to start a fight at any point – and thought he was a really cool character, a dancer who sings. I knew I wanted to be up there on stage taking that role.” A singer he is, but the role also required a high level of dance expertise.
College Issue 35 2018
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