'West Side Story' cancellation draws protest

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) -- Is the play "West Side Story" a timeless musical classic or a dated work filled with demeaning ethnic stereotypes?

The question is the subject of a hot debate here, following the Amherst Regional High School's cancellation of a student production of the play.About 100 people rallied on the Town Common on Sunday to protest the cancellation, which came in the wake of complaints that the musical demeaned Puerto Ricans.

"I admit there are problems. There's racism, but by not doing the play, it's not solving the problem. It's just being covered up," said Jeff Rothenberg, 17, one of the handful of students who turned out for the rally.

Other speakers included Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, Selectman Hill Boss and William Newman, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Western Massachusetts chapter.

"I think that denying the community the opportunity to see the play is wrong. It's wrong in a democratic society," said Rosenberg. "You shouldn't seek to silence different points of view, and that's what's happening here."

But not everyone saw it that way.

"The Latinos are basically put down in the play and are strongly stereotyped," said Orlando Sola-Gomez, 49, an Amherst resident whose daughter attends the high school.

He said he was grateful the school opted not to perform the play since Hispanic students at the high school are stereotyped already and the play would only have made matters worse.

"It's the first step to show consideration," he said.

"Minorities are feeling under siege," said Rashna Singh, an English professor at Holyoke Community College, whose daughter is a junior at the high school.

She said she thought it was unfortunate the cancellation had evolved into a free speech debate.

School officials replaced the musical with "Crazy for You," a 1990s rewrite of the 1930 musical "Girl Crazy" by George and Ira Gershwin.