The best musicals do a remarkable balancing act. On one level they transport the audience to a separate world, while at the same time they have universal themes that apply to everyone. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s play In The Heights skillfully performs this delicate balancing act.
In The Heights does a wonderful job of transporting the audience into the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. Thanks to wonderful set design and a great musical Latin-infused musical score, the audience feels as if it is actually peering into a section of Washington Heights. The actors do a great job of mimicking the attitudes and mannerisms of many of the Latinos from that neighborhood. Thankfully, the play manages to poke fun without resorting to stereotypes. While the re-creation of the atmosphere of Washington Heights onstage is impressive, what separates In The Heights from other musicals are these strong universal appeals.
In The Heights focuses on achieving the American dream: family and love apply as much to a farmer in Topeka as they do to the people in Washington Heights. In the play, we see many characters striving to achieve the American dream. For example, Kevin (Danny Bolero) and Camila Rosario (Natalie Toro) run their own car service, hoping to provide for their daughter Nina (Arielle Jacobs); yet, this is not a Pollyanna-ish story. Nina has dropped out of Stanford, crushing the dreams of her parents. This decision causes Nina’s parents great anguish, but in the end, they make a true sacrifice – they sell the car service to raise enough money to send Nina back to college. Local bodega owner Usnavi (Lin-Manuel Miranda) also tries to fulfill the American dream. Thwarted by vandalism, blackout, and bad luck, Usnavi cannot make his bodega successful. In a stroke of luck, his beloved grandmother Claudia (Elise Santora) wins the lottery. Sadly, she dies soon after. Believing he can turn luck into success, Usnavi closes down his bodega to move to the Dominican Republic. However, after a local graffiti artist paints a touching portrait of Abuela Claudia, Usnavi decides to stay. The American dream is not merely about financial success. It is about the struggle and the people you meet along the way. Usnavi realizes that Washington Heights is home, and he happily re-opens his bodega.
Playing in Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre until July 25th,2010.
To buy tickets for In the Heights, click here: Pantages Theatre.