In The Heights Soars
Nick Haramis
March 10, 2008
The Village Voice’s Michael Musto—who recently posed naked as a chicken-chewing Lindsay Monroe—sat nearby watching a preview run of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s new Broadway sensation (trust us) In the Heights. As such, we were nervous for Miranda. Musto, despite his ragged appearance in plastic bag-covered shoes ("Long story,” he said, when he caught us staring), isn’t always easy to please. But then again, neither are we, which is why we’re suprised to say, this is the best thing you’ll see on Broadway this year! Which means a lot—or nothing—considering we hate musical theater.
In the Heights has been positioned as this season’s Spring Awakening, a combination of hip-hop, reggae, rap, and other not wholly embarassing genres. Having grown up with Phantom of the Opera and Cats, however (with a soul-crushing, life-changing air band performance of “On My Own” along the way), we’re apprehensive anytime we hear “hip” and “musical” in the same breath. But this one’s different. With characters that range from mom-and-pop car service owners and Stanford drop-outs, to bodega owners and graffiti artists, Miranda has crafted a universal story rooted in New York’s Washington Heights. Andréa Burns, as fiery salon owner Daniela, is absolutely delicious when rolling her eyes (and r’s), and dreaming of life with a bigger cup size. Each cast member holds their own, but this is Miranda’s show. Juggling spoken word and song, he samples hip-hop tracks and is at his best when, voice cracking, he reveals the fragility underneath his glass half-full exterior. His work is accomplished and confident, and—we never thought we’d say this—but he made theater fun again.
On the way out, our date—fine, our intern—complained that the show seemed too safe, as if the ghetto had been sugarcoated. But that’s precisely where Miranda’s genius lies. In the Heights isn’t avant anything; rather, it’s a palatable, welcoming, and honest account of life in the city, complete with all the rich characters in it. —Nick Haramis
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