IN THE HEIGHTS HITS THE HIGH NOTES AT THE MARRIOTT THEATRE
With the world-beating success of Hamilton overshadowing all that came before it, it’s easy to forget that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s earlier work, In the Heights, won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical. Marriott Theatre’s production of Miranda’s earlier triumph is a welcome reminder of what a high-quality show In the Heights is.
It also serves as a fascinating document of artistic obsessions that Miranda carried over to Hamilton–a passionate love for New York City, the potent power of an orphan with something to prove, a focus on how our stories will live on, and how crucial it is to find one’s family (broadly defined) and a meaningful place in the world.
This energetic staging, directed by James Vásquez and choreographed by William Carlos Angulo, with musical direction by Ryan T. Nelson, stars Joseph Morales as Usnavi (he of the name that pays off in one of the show’s most memorable jokes), a role he played in the first national tour of In the Heights.
Morales, who also played Hamilton in the original Chicago company of that show, displays supreme comfort with, and empathy for, the material. It might be nice to see a bit more deviation from Miranda’s take on the role, but that’s a quibble. Morales is the effervescent emotional touchstone of this story of how these people, mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican immigrants, survive, thrive, dream big and fall in love in a Washington Heights beset with crime and a long blackout during one sweltering summer.
As the shy Usnavi’s love interest Vanessa, Paola V. Hernández is a glorious hot mess who radiates heat, while Addie Morales nails the fish-out-of-water vibe as Nina, who has returned to the Heights after failing to launch at her California university.
There’s a lot going on in this high-energy production’s book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, but it all flows beautifully with Miranda’s top-notch score starting from joyous numbers “In the Heights,” “Piragua” and “Carnaval del Barrio (Neighborhood Carnival)” to standout ballads like “Breathe,” “Champagne” and “When the Sun Goes Down.” That’s thanks here in large part to the all-important dancing and music delivered courtesy of Angulo, Nelson and a fine orchestra conducted by Noah Landis.
Will Usnavi close his bodega and leave the hood–and Vanessa–in the lurch to return to the Dominican Republic with the beloved Abuela Claudia (a warm-hearted Crissy Guerrero), who purchased the winning lottery ticket that can finally make “96,000” dollars’ worth of their dreams come true? Will Nina work up the courage and come up with the money to return to college? Will she consummate her own romance with Benny (the delightful and dynamic Yasir Muhammad), who works dispatch at her family’s taxi company? And will ConEd ever get the damn lights and air conditioners up and running again?
Following these and other stories to their sometimes bittersweet conclusions is an exhilarating night at the theater. You’ll leave In the Heights on a high note.
