It’s been twenty years since In the Heights was first produced at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Centre in Connecticut and now it has finally made it to Melbourne in one of our big commercial theatres. The show has popped up in smaller venues over the years, but it took the success of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s second musical, for there to be a real hook to put it in a space like the Comedy Theatre.
This
production, directed by Luke Joslin and choreographed by Amy Campbell, was borne
out an earlier more intimate version they devised at the Hayes Theatre in 2018.
Some of the cast, like Ryan Gonzalez as Usnavi and Olivia Vasquez as Vanessa,
have come along for the ride.
I haven’t
seen the show on stage before, but I have seen the 2021 film directed by Wicked
film director, Jon M Chu. That was a joyous experience, where Chu didn’t shy
away from the musical aspects, indulging in wildly choreographed street dance
scenes and beautifully devised set-pieces all over Washington Heights, where
the show and film are set. Some of it felt like it would work better on stage,
though.
I’ve heard
the show described as “Upper, Upper West Side” Story, which is true in a sense –
it deals with the immigrant experience and there are a couple of love stories
at the centre. But as a first work, it hews more closely to something like RENT,
a large cast ensemble story where the neighbourhood setting is part of its
success. I think this show is more complex lyrically than Jonathan Larson’s
first and only Broadway show, but the communal aspects of both shine through.
Ryan Gonzalez plays Usnavi, owner of the corner bodega, who is struggling to keep his business going, especially in the heat of a New York summer. Gonzalez has an eerie resemblance to Miranda, who played the part in the original Broadway production. His voice is powerful, even as the character spends a lot of time being awkward and unsure of himself. As the central role and a kind of narrator, Gonzalez’s charm guides us through the neighbourhood with ease.
Olivia
Vasquez’s Vanessa is confident, with a powerful voice and stunning dance moves.
In fact, the whole ensemble works together to give us a lively, nuanced portrait
of immigrants trying to build a life in a big, expensive American city. Nigali
Shaw and Mariah Gonzalez have excellent chemistry as Nina and Benny, trying to
feel their way through a relationship threatened by job insecurity and Nina
perhaps returning to college at Stanford.
Campbell’s
choreography is electric, thrilling the audience with large ensemble pieces contrasted
with intimate two-hander moments. The Latin-American flavour comes through with
full force; the dancing is worth the price of admission alone.
In the
Heights is a little
rough around the edges, compared to the more precise, more accomplished work of
the creative team behind Hamilton. But that feels right for this piece,
where the characters are still finding their place in the world. This is not
just a throwaway joke like “immigrants, we get the job done”, this show is
doing the work of delving into their lived experience. Remember, the diverse
casting of Hamilton is a dramatic device – that show is about white
people. This show is really about new Americans from Central America and the Caribbean
building their lives.
It's strange that Miranda’s two musicals both end on the idea of legacy and what we will be remembered for, even though they play so differently. Usnavi’s legacy in helping to keep his corner of the city together is worlds away from how Alexander Hamilton will be remembered, but the parallel is interesting. With this one-two punch, Miranda's legacy is clear.
The show is bold,
colourful and full of life, as I wish the immigrant experience could be. This
show first debuted on Broadway at the start of Obama’s first term. Watching it
during Trump’s second term takes the shine off it a little, because this isn’t
the same country anymore. This feels much more like wish-fulfilment, though isn’t
that what most musicals are anyway?
- Keith Gow, Theatre First
In the
Heights is playing
at the Comedy Theatre until Sept 6 and then travels to the Gold Coast
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