I fell in love with West Side Story when I first saw the movie starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn in 1961. I was a romantic and idealistic college freshman engaged to a girl named Marie (almost like Maria, the girl in the film). So of course I loved it. And I still do. It's still one of the best musicals of all time.

I didn't even recognize back then that it was a retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in a slum area of Manhattan in the 1950s with Puerto-Rican and Italian street gangs instead of Montagues and Capulets as the warring "families." Watching the stage production at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, I was struck with how obvious the similarities are and marveled that I didn't get it back in 1961.

In West Side Story, Ryan Anderson plays Tony, the former leader of the Italian-American street gang the Jets. He meets his Juliet, Maria (played by Melissa Maricich) at a dance and immediately falls in love with her, and she with him - it's as unlikely, unbelievable and touching as it is in Shakespeare's version. Their love affair is conducted in secret amidst a gang war between the Jets and the Sharks, a Puerto-Rican gang led by Bernado (Anthony Deleon). The leader of the Jets is an intense looking and curly haired Steven Walker as Riff. Both Walker and Deleon are cast to type. I do not know if Deleon is Hispanic or not, but he certainly looks the part. Likewise, Maricich may or may not be Hispanic but has the right looks for the part. This is relevant because a major criticism of the film was the casting of an obviously Caucasian actress as Maria.

The property is unbeatable, with music by the great Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The athletic dance moves as adapted locally by Jon Douglas Rake and co-choreographer Jimmy Shields, is probably as tough a challenge as that of any musical, and the local actors have mastered some awesome moves. If they're not as natural and as sharp as dancers on Broadway, they come awfully close.

Bruce Haasl does a superb job of creating a 1950s Manhattan Upper West Side street scene that smoothly converts to the interiors of Doc's Drugstore and Anita's apartment. There were a few set changes that hopefully will go a little quicker and quieter in future performances (I saw it opening weekend).

The tune "America," a duet between Anita (Melanie Gladstone) who wants to be a fully assimilated American and Rosalia (Brynne Geiszler) who longs to go home to Puerto Rico, is as funny and sociologically spot-on as can be. Similarly, the most comical bit in the whole play, "Gee, Officer Krumpke," is wonderfully sung by Action (Jake Atwood) and danced with great style by the Jets. It's a great commentary on how sadly authorities misunderstood juveniles back in the '50s.

The songs "Maria" by Tony, "Tonight" by Tony and Maria with the entire cast, and "Somewhere" with solos by Tony and Maria plus Clarice (Maggie Barry) and Francisca (Francesca Guecia) are among the most beautiful love songs ever written. The musical arrangement and blocking of "Tonight" with different groups and soloists coming in stereophonically from different parts of the stage is stupendous.

There is a lot of fighting and a rape scene, all of which are executed with highly stylized yet tasteful dance moves. Bernstein's music, which blends the operatic with popular music, and Sondheim's inventive lyrics go a long way toward making this among the best of musicals. It is two-and-a-half hours long but seems to fly by. This is a show well worth the cost of admission.

WEST SIDE STORY, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 2, Tacoma Musical Playhouse at The Narrows Theatre, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, $20-$29, 253.565.6867, www.tmp.org