What would William Shakespeare think if he found out that one of his greatest love stories had been turned into a musical? He might actually be impressed. Based on Romeo and Juliet, the American musical West Side Story opened in New York City on this date in 1957. Its plot is centered on two rival teenage gangs. Just as with the Montagues and Capulets, the feud between the Sharks and the Jets escalates when a romance blooms between a boy and a girl from the two opposing sides. West Side Story's creation marked a turning point for musicals because it used sophisticated music and elaborate dance scenes to bring attention to a dark social problem.
歷史上的今天 9月26日…
要是莎士比亞發現他其中一部愛情鉅作被改編成音樂劇會作何感想？他或許真的會感到印象深刻。於1957年的今日在紐約市首演的美國音樂劇《西城故事》（圖為2006年台北演出情形，資料照片）即是改編自《羅密歐與茱麗葉》。這齣音樂劇的劇情圍繞在兩個敵對的年輕幫派上。正如同蒙特鳩與凱普雷特兩家一樣，在兩個來自敵對陣營的男女擦出愛火之際，鯊魚及傑特兩幫之間的仇恨鬥爭也愈演愈烈。《西城故事》這項創作為音樂劇劃下一個轉捩點，因為它利用饒富深度的音樂及精心安排的舞蹈場景來使人們注意到黑暗的社會問題。
單字片語
◎musicaln. 音樂劇，歌舞劇
◎feud
n.（個人或群體間的）長期爭鬥，世仇
◎escalate
vi.（暴力、爭鬥等不好的狀況）惡化，擴大
例：Gina's financial problems escalated after she lost her job.（吉娜的財務問題在她失業後更加惡化。）
◎opposing
a. 敵對的；對立的
例：Ethan and Frank have opposing views on the matter.（伊森和法蘭克對那件事的意見相左。）
◎sophisticated
a. 精緻的；複雜的
◎elaborate
a. 精心製作的；詳盡的
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