A
secondary character in a highly successful musical known as
West Side Story. The script describes him as
an explosive little ferret who enjoys everything and understands the seriousness of nothing. He is a
rank and file member of the
Jets gang. In the
Prologue of the show, he gets jumped by the main force of the
Sharks, getting his ear pierced by
Puerto Rican leader
Bernardo.
In the second act, after the death of Jet leader Riff, A-rab's personality does a complete 180. He mellows significantly, and has a very powerful scene with fellow Jet Baby John that impressively portrays the two Jets as frightened children.
From a subjective viewpoint, A-rab is one of the more powerful characters in West Side Story. Although not a principal, he is an exciting and dynamic quasi-protagonist.