Many must be heading to the Oxford Playhouse this week more in hope than expectation of satisfaction from the student production of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical West Side Story.

As director Alice Hamilton points out in a programme note, the show is a best-ever for many people, so the cast are naturally apprehensive that audiences could be disappointed.

I am happy to say that these fears prove groundless: musically, dramatically and, indeed, visually this presentation of the iconic musical is a notable success, from which all involved can take great credit.

This includes – indeed, includes especially – the young players hidden down in the orchestra pit. The 23-strong band, under musical director Tom Brady, reveal a competent, confidant handling of the score from the first bars of the overture to the end of the tragic tale.

The action, set in the New York of the 1950s, mirrors, to a degree, the story of Romeo and Juliet with the feuding Montagues and Capulets replaced by street gangs the Jets and the Sharks. An element of social comment is introduced through the fact that the former are white, the latter Puerto Rican immigrants.

Trouble brews when Tony (Tom Lyle) of the Jets falls for Maria (Emma Pearce), the sister of the leader of the Sharks, Bernado (Alex Khosla).

The story unfolds through dialogue, dance and songs, all of which are handled adroitly. Yes, even the dance, so congratulations to choreographer Emilie Holland for her hard work with the cast.

The wonderful, familiar songs that fill the score are performed well enough not to invite odious comparison with the film (and other) versions.

There are particularly good accounts of Tonight (Maria and Tony), of America from Anita (Genevieve Dawson) and the Shark girls, and of Gee, Officer Krupke from the Jets (pictured).

The officer himself is given an amusing comic portrayal by Rory Pelsue. Performances continue until Saturday.