A Utah Theater Review by Megan Pederson
“Where people come
people go
Let me show all these
people what I know
There’s no place like home!”
At the core of In the Heights currently playing at Pioneer Theater Company through the end of the week is heart, heritage and home. I feel like I should break out with some hip-hop dancing and rap this review. If I had the talent, I probably would! It’s hard not to want to embrace the Latin culture that courses through the streets of this heavily influenced Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights, New York.
If you were to read a synopsis of the classic play Our Town by Thornton Wilder, it would tell the story of a town or neighborhood seen through the everyday interactions of its inhabitants. In the Heights takes the same approaching, letting us into the lives of these wonderful people who are simply trying to live, grow, dream and become.
Joseph Morales as Usnavi is beautiful in his humble and sincere approach to this character. In a role that is usually played with an almost manic level of energy, I appreciated his controlled emotion. At one point in the show, he hands out candles to loved ones, gently passing each candle, making eye contact and holding it for the briefest moment. It was his small connections that floored me again and again. I must have listened to the cast recording dozens of times before seeing this production and never did the finale hit me the way it did until Morales stood staring (brilliant staging choice by director Matt August or Choreographer Bob Richard) at the streetlight.
I must commend both August and Richard on the staging of the show. The choice to pull in dance during the solo “Paciencia y Fe (Patience and Faith)” added an incredible element of story telling. Throughout the show, there were moments where music, lighting (Paul Miller) and dance all came together in a deliberate pause and my breath halted just as the action on the stage slowed then picked up in bursts of flavor. Fantastic transitions and hats off to the wonderful ensemble – I’m sure they made more than just myself want to get up on the stage and dance with them.
Returning to the role he created in the Off-Broadway production, John Herrera as Kevin was astounding in “Inutil (Uselss)”. If I’m ever in a bind I want Daniela (Natalie Hill) on my side! Emily Vasquez brought such honesty to Nina that you couldn’t help but love her. And last but not least, Natalie Toro in “Enough” was simply divine.
And I can’t possibly proceed without a mention of the amazing set and costume design by G.W. Mercier. Mercier actually went to Washington Heights and purchased several of the costumes. In addition, he took hundreds of photos and the sets are created using a technique where they use the actual pictures of the buildings instead of paint. Brilliant.
As for critiques, I have only two worth mentioning. First, there was the addition of the bolero singer (Victoria de Altamirano). From those I have talked to, there seems to be mixed reactions. She was incredibly talented and beautiful but I found the part distracting and I am still not entirely sure what purpose she served. For me, this show is about the people of the neighborhood and a mystical, angel, spiritual (if that’s what she was) figure just didn’t seem to fit with the hip-hop on the NY streets.
Second, I had front row tickets, which were amazing. However, being that close to the orchestra caused many of the vocals to be lost. Perhaps that is something that can’t be helped when you are on the front row but I did struggle to hear at times, and I know most of the lyrics so I can image how those who were new to the show may have felt.
Those small critiques aside, In the Heights should not be missed. For people who have dared to dream, longed to make something of themselves, have felt buried by burdens in life, or have searched for a place to call home – this show is for you. From moments of feeling powerless to an overwhelming desire to belong, In the Heights is sure to find a home in your heart.
Pioneer Theatre Company’s production of In the Heights plays through this Saturday, September 29. Tickets are $38-64. For more information, visit www.pioneertheatre.org.
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