ONE HEART
This love song was recruited from the score of Candide, another musical that Leonard Bernstein was composing during the gestation of West Side Story. Actually the deal was something of a trade. The earlier song scheduled for the bridal shop scene was light and cheerful, in keeping with the playful business of pretending to meet the families. This song was moved to Candide and became "Oh, Happy We" while "One Hand, One Heart" (still called "One," as listed in some of the earliest out-of-town programs) was placed into the Fire Escape Scene. Arthur Laurents is said to have had made the suggestion to re-position the song into the bridal shop scene for the lovers’ second-day meeting, and the more soaring "Tonight" became the fervent declaration of love at the fire escape. Even into the 21st century, "One Hand, One Heart" remains a favored selection for wedding ceremonies.
Jossie de Guzman and Ken Marshall as
Maria and Tony
Broadway Revival Cast
1980
Next Exhibit (Quintet)
Previous Exhibit ("Cool")
