Dan's Papers - March 14, 2008 - review: in the heights

The musical In the Heights conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda is an infectious celebration of a Washington Heights neighborhood pulsating with Latin-American rhythms. In his original songs, Miranda blends rap, hip-hop, jazz, pop and salsa into a nostalgic love letter to his community, while making reverent nods to traditional show tunes. The combination is irresistible. And there is a bittersweet quality running through the entire evening that gives a soulful counterpoint to the jubilant production.

In the Heights moved to Broadway after a well received six month run last season. Our main criticism then was Quiara Alegria Hudes' heavily clichéd, sentimental book. With the transfer, however, the characters have been fleshed out a bit, deepening emotional tensions and conflicts. As a result, the story's main theme of immigrants coping with the gentrification of their neighborhood has been given more resonance.

Physical components have been worked on as well. The dancing that won a Drama Desk Award last season is even more sensational. Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler doesn't keep to one style for too long, continually shifting the chaotic urban feel with heightened energy. The staging by director Thomas Kail makes use of every nook and cranny on Anna Louizos' even more detailed set that's dominated by a spectacular backdrop of the George Washington Bridge soaring into the sky.

Add to all of this Howell Binkley's redesigned lighting - a shimmering palette of colors that shift as the scenes move from dawn, to dusk, to night - and a spectacular Fourth of July fireworks juxtaposed with the candle light of a sudden blackout. The meticulous tweaking has turned the evening into an immensely satisfying experience that could charm the most entrenched cynic.

In the Heights chronicles the life of a tight-knit community of Latinos who live at the top of Manhattan's West Side. They inhabit a bustling intersection where there's not only the corner bodega, but a unisex hair salon and a local car service. The action takes place over a three day July 4 weekend. The neighborhood story brings to mind Rent, and some of the dancing is reminiscent of West Side Story. Although the book is still clichéd, the story gains charm from the collision of the interconnecting tales and after all, this is a musical, and there's not a single dull moment.

Miranda himself plays the pivotal central role of Usnavi, a likeable guy who owns the local bodega. But this musical is no ego trip. Miranda's lyrics are character driven, giving every member of the uniformly first rate cast at least one outstanding solo - moments to shine. Fueled by Miranda's lively rhythms the ensemble delivers robust, committed performances.

The opening number, which begins as rap ode to the neighborhood and builds momentum, introduces the large cast of vivid characters. Usnavi's devoted aged Aunt, Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz); Nina (Mandy Gonzales) just back from her first year at Stamford University, who is the 19-year-old daughter of car service owners Camila and Kevin (Priscilla Lopez and Carlos Gomez). The beauty salon proprietor Daniela (Andrea Burns) and her stylist Vanessa (Karen Olivo) comment on the action, and Benny (Christopher Jackson) is a young stud who works for the car service and is smitten with the maturing Nina. Other characters that add local flavor are Graffiti Pete (Seth Stewart), and Piragua Guy (Eliseo Roman).

The feeling of these people being bound together yet each struggling to express his or her own distinctive voice lends humanity to the evening. Combined with Miranda's dynamic score, playful rhymes and witty lyrics delivered by an inspired cast, In the Heights is all that and more...a tribute to old fashioned musicals with a fresh edge.

In the Heights opened on Broadway March 9, 2008 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W 46th Street. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com, 212-307-4100, or at the box office.

Theater critics Barry Gordin and Patrick Christiano are members of the Drama Desk. Barry is an internationally renowned photographer and Patrick is artistic director of SilvaRoad Productions. They can be reached at bg6@verizon.net or theaterlife.com